Chapter VIII

by Jane Austen

　　Fanny's rides recommenced the very next day; and as itwas a pleasant fresh-feeling morning, less hot than theweather had lately been, Edmund trusted that her losses,both of health and pleasure, would be soon made good.While she was gone Mr. Rushworth arrived, escorting his mother,who came to be civil and to shew her civility especially,in urging the execution of the plan for visiting Sotherton,which had been started a fortnight before, and which,in consequence of her subsequent absence from home,had since lain dormant. Mrs. Norris and her nieces were allwell pleased with its revival, and an early day was namedand agreed to, provided Mr. Crawford should be disengaged:the young ladies did not forget that stipulation, and thoughMrs. Norris would willingly have answered for his being so,they would neither authorise the liberty nor run the risk;and at last, on a hint from Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworthdiscovered that the properest thing to be done was forhim to walk down to the Parsonage directly, and call onMr. Crawford, and inquire whether Wednesday would suit himor not.Before his return Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford came in.Having been out some time, and taken a different routeto the house, they had not met him. Comfortable hopes,however, were given that he would find Mr. Crawfordat home. The Sotherton scheme was mentioned of course.It was hardly possible, indeed, that anything else shouldbe talked of, for Mrs. Norris was in high spirits about it;and Mrs. Rushworth, a well-meaning, civil, prosing,pompous woman, who thought nothing of consequence, but as itrelated to her own and her son's concerns, had not yetgiven over pressing Lady Bertram to be of the party.Lady Bertram constantly declined it; but her placid mannerof refusal made Mrs. Rushworth still think she wishedto come, till Mrs. Norris's more numerous words and loudertone convinced her of the truth."The fatigue would be too much for my sister, a greatdeal too much, I assure you, my dear Mrs. Rushworth.Ten miles there, and ten back, you know. You mustexcuse my sister on this occasion, and accept of ourtwo dear girls and myself without her. Sotherton isthe only place that could give her a _wish_ to go so far,but it cannot be, indeed. She will have a companionin Fanny Price, you know, so it will all do very well;and as for Edmund, as he is not here to speak for himself,I will answer for his being most happy to join the party.He can go on horseback, you know."Mrs. Rushworth being obliged to yield to Lady Bertram'sstaying at home, could only be sorry. "The loss of herladyship's company would be a great drawback, and sheshould have been extremely happy to have seen the younglady too, Miss Price, who had never been at Sotherton yet,and it was a pity she should not see the place.""You are very kind, you are all kindness, my dear madam,"cried Mrs. Norris; "but as to Fanny, she will haveopportunities in plenty of seeing Sotherton. She hastime enough before her; and her going now is quite outof the question. Lady Bertram could not possibly spare her.""Oh no! I cannot do without Fanny."Mrs. Rushworth proceeded next, under the conviction thateverybody must be wanting to see Sotherton, to includeMiss Crawford in the invitation; and though Mrs. Grant,who had not been at the trouble of visiting Mrs. Rushworth,on her coming into the neighbourhood, civilly declined iton her own account, she was glad to secure any pleasurefor her sister; and Mary, properly pressed and persuaded,was not long in accepting her share of the civility.Mr. Rushworth came back from the Parsonage successful;and Edmund made his appearance just in time to learn whathad been settled for Wednesday, to attend Mrs. Rushworthto her carriage, and walk half-way down the park with the twoother ladies.On his return to the breakfast-room, he found Mrs. Norristrying to make up her mind as to whether Miss Crawford'sbeing of the party were desirable or not, or whetherher brother's barouche would not be full without her.The Miss Bertrams laughed at the idea, assuring herthat the barouche would hold four perfectly well,independent of the box, on which _one_ might go with him."But why is it necessary," said Edmund, "that Crawford's carriage,or his _only_, should be employed? Why is no use to bemade of my mother's chaise? I could not, when the schemewas first mentioned the other day, understand why a visitfrom the family were not to be made in the carriage of the family.""What!" cried Julia: "go boxed up three in a postchaisein this weather, when we may have seats in a barouche!No, my dear Edmund, that will not quite do.""Besides," said Maria, "I know that Mr. Crawford dependsupon taking us. After what passed at first, he wouldclaim it as a promise.""And, my dear Edmund," added Mrs. Norris, "taking out _two_carriages when _one_ will do, would be trouble for nothing;and, between ourselves, coachman is not very fond of theroads between this and Sotherton: he always complainsbitterly of the narrow lanes scratching his carriage,and you know one should not like to have dear Sir Thomas,when he comes home, find all the varnish scratched off.""That would not be a very handsome reason for usingMr. Crawford's," said Maria; "but the truth is, that Wilcoxis a stupid old fellow, and does not know how to drive.I will answer for it that we shall find no inconveniencefrom narrow roads on Wednesday.""There is no hardship, I suppose, nothing unpleasant,"said Edmund, "in going on the barouche box.""Unpleasant!" cried Maria: "oh dear! I believe it wouldbe generally thought the favourite seat. There canbe no comparison as to one's view of the country.Probably Miss Crawford will choose the barouche-box herself.""There can be no objection, then, to Fanny's going with you;there can be no doubt of your having room for her.""Fanny!" repeated Mrs. Norris; "my dear Edmund, there isno idea of her going with us. She stays with her aunt.I told Mrs. Rushworth so. She is not expected.""You can have no reason, I imagine, madam," said he,addressing his mother, "for wishing Fanny _not_to be of the party, but as it relates to yourself,to your own comfort. If you could do without her,you would not wish to keep her at home?""To be sure not, but I _cannot_ do without her.""You can, if I stay at home with you, as I mean to do."There was a general cry out at this. "Yes," he continued,"there is no necessity for my going, and I mean to stayat home. Fanny has a great desire to see Sotherton.I know she wishes it very much. She has not often agratification of the kind, and I am sure, ma'am, you wouldbe glad to give her the pleasure now?""Oh yes! very glad, if your aunt sees no objection."Mrs. Norris was very ready with the only objection whichcould remain--their having positively assured Mrs. Rushworththat Fanny could not go, and the very strange appearancethere would consequently be in taking her, which seemedto her a difficulty quite impossible to be got over.It must have the strangest appearance! It would besomething so very unceremonious, so bordering on disrespectfor Mrs. Rushworth, whose own manners were such a patternof good-breeding and attention, that she really did notfeel equal to it. Mrs. Norris had no affection for Fanny,and no wish of procuring her pleasure at any time;but her opposition to Edmund _now_, arose more frompartiality for her own scheme, because it _was_ her own,than from anything else. She felt that she had arrangedeverything extremely well, and that any alteration must befor the worse. When Edmund, therefore, told her in reply,as he did when she would give him the hearing, that sheneed not distress herself on Mrs. Rushworth's account,because he had taken the opportunity, as he walked withher through the hall, of mentioning Miss Price as onewho would probably be of the party, and had directlyreceived a very sufficient invitation for his cousin,Mrs. Norris was too much vexed to submit with a verygood grace, and would only say, "Very well, very well,just as you chuse, settle it your own way, I am sure Ido not care about it.""It seems very odd," said Maria, "that you should bestaying at home instead of Fanny.""I am sure she ought to be very much obliged to you,"added Julia, hastily leaving the room as she spoke,from a consciousness that she ought to offer to stay athome herself."Fanny will feel quite as grateful as the occasion requires,"was Edmund's only reply, and the subject dropt.Fanny's gratitude, when she heard the plan, was, in fact,much greater than her pleasure. She felt Edmund's kindnesswith all, and more than all, the sensibility which he,unsuspicious of her fond attachment, could be aware of;but that he should forego any enjoyment on her account gaveher pain, and her own satisfaction in seeing Sotherton wouldbe nothing without him.The next meeting of the two Mansfield families producedanother alteration in the plan, and one that was admittedwith general approbation. Mrs. Grant offered herself ascompanion for the day to Lady Bertram in lieu of her son,and Dr. Grant was to join them at dinner. Lady Bertramwas very well pleased to have it so, and the young ladieswere in spirits again. Even Edmund was very thankful for anarrangement which restored him to his share of the party;and Mrs. Norris thought it an excellent plan, and had itat her tongue's end, and was on the point of proposing it,when Mrs. Grant spoke.Wednesday was fine, and soon after breakfast the barouchearrived, Mr. Crawford driving his sisters; and as everybodywas ready, there was nothing to be done but for Mrs. Grantto alight and the others to take their places. The placeof all places, the envied seat, the post of honour,was unappropriated. To whose happy lot was it to fall?While each of the Miss Bertrams were meditating how best,and with the most appearance of obliging the others,to secure it, the matter was settled by Mrs. Grant's saying,as she stepped from the carriage, "As there are fiveof you, it will be better that one should sit with Henry;and as you were saying lately that you wished youcould drive, Julia, I think this will be a good opportunityfor you to take a lesson."Happy Julia! Unhappy Maria! The former was on thebarouche-box in a moment, the latter took her seat within,in gloom and mortification; and the carriage droveoff amid the good wishes of the two remaining ladies,and the barking of Pug in his mistress's arms.Their road was through a pleasant country; and Fanny,whose rides had never been extensive, was soon beyondher knowledge, and was very happy in observing all thatwas new, and admiring all that was pretty. She was notoften invited to join in the conversation of the others,nor did she desire it. Her own thoughts and reflectionswere habitually her best companions; and, in observingthe appearance of the country, the bearings of the roads,the difference of soil, the state of the harvest, the cottages,the cattle, the children, she found entertainmentthat could only have been heightened by having Edmundto speak to of what she felt. That was the only pointof resemblance between her and the lady who sat by her:in everything but a value for Edmund, Miss Crawford wasvery unlike her. She had none of Fanny's delicacy of taste,of mind, of feeling; she saw Nature, inanimate Nature,with little observation; her attention was all for menand women, her talents for the light and lively.In looking back after Edmund, however, when there wasany stretch of road behind them, or when he gained onthem in ascending a considerable hill, they were united,and a "there he is" broke at the same moment from them both,more than once.For the first seven miles Miss Bertram had very littlereal comfort: her prospect always ended in Mr. Crawfordand her sister sitting side by side, full of conversationand merriment; and to see only his expressive profileas he turned with a smile to Julia, or to catch the laughof the other, was a perpetual source of irritation,which her own sense of propriety could but just smooth over.When Julia looked back, it was with a countenance of delight,and whenever she spoke to them, it was in the highest spirits:"her view of the country was charming, she wished theycould all see it," etc.; but her only offer of exchangewas addressed to Miss Crawford, as they gained the summitof a long hill, and was not more inviting than this:"Here is a fine burst of country. I wish you had my seat,but I dare say you will not take it, let me press you everso much;" and Miss Crawford could hardly answer before theywere moving again at a good pace.When they came within the influence of Sotherton associations,it was better for Miss Bertram, who might be said to havetwo strings to her bow. She had Rushworth feelings,and Crawford feelings, and in the vicinity of Sothertonthe former had considerable effect. Mr. Rushworth'sconsequence was hers. She could not tell Miss Crawfordthat "those woods belonged to Sotherton," she could notcarelessly observe that "she believed that it was nowall Mr. Rushworth's property on each side of the road,"without elation of heart; and it was a pleasure to increasewith their approach to the capital freehold mansion,and ancient manorial residence of the family, with allits rights of court-leet and court-baron."Now we shall have no more rough road, Miss Crawford;our difficulties are over. The rest of the way is suchas it ought to be. Mr. Rushworth has made it since hesucceeded to the estate. Here begins the village.Those cottages are really a disgrace. The church spireis reckoned remarkably handsome. I am glad the churchis not so close to the great house as often happens inold places. The annoyance of the bells must be terrible.There is the parsonage: a tidy-looking house, and Iunderstand the clergyman and his wife are very decent people.Those are almshouses, built by some of the family.To the right is the steward's house; he is a veryrespectable man. Now we are coming to the lodge-gates;but we have nearly a mile through the park still.It is not ugly, you see, at this end; there is somefine timber, but the situation of the house is dreadful.We go down hill to it for half a mile, and it is a pity,for it would not be an ill-looking place if it had abetter approach."Miss Crawford was not slow to admire; she pretty well guessedMiss Bertram's feelings, and made it a point of honourto promote her enjoyment to the utmost. Mrs. Norris wasall delight and volubility; and even Fanny had somethingto say in admiration, and might be heard with complacency.Her eye was eagerly taking in everything within her reach;and after being at some pains to get a view of the house,and observing that "it was a sort of building which shecould not look at but with respect," she added, "Now, whereis the avenue? The house fronts the east, I perceive.The avenue, therefore, must be at the back of it.Mr. Rushworth talked of the west front.""Yes, it is exactly behind the house; begins at a littledistance, and ascends for half a mile to the extremityof the grounds. You may see something of it here--something of the more distant trees. It is oak entirely."Miss Bertram could now speak with decided informationof what she had known nothing about when Mr. Rushworthhad asked her opinion; and her spirits were in as happya flutter as vanity and pride could furnish, when they droveup to the spacious stone steps before the principal entrance.