第38章

Mrs。Norriswasalittleconfoundedandasnearlybeingsilencedasevershehadbeeninherlife；forshewasashamedtoconfesshavingneverseenanyoftheimproprietywhichwassoglaringtoSirThomas，andwouldnothaveadmittedthatherinfluencewasinsufficient——

thatshemighthavetalkedinvain。Heronlyresourcewastogetoutofthesubjectasfastaspossible，andturnthecurrentofSirThomas’sideasintoahappierchannel。

Shehadagreatdealtoinsinuateinherownpraiseasto_general_attentiontotheinterestandcomfortofhisfamily，muchexertionandmanysacrificestoglanceatintheformofhurriedwalksandsuddenremovalsfromherownfireside，andmanyexcellenthintsofdistrustandeconomytoLadyBertramandEdmundtodetail，wherebyamostconsiderablesavinghadalwaysarisen，andmorethanonebadservantbeendetected。ButherchiefstrengthlayinSotherton。HergreatestsupportandglorywasinhavingformedtheconnexionwiththeRushworths。

_There_shewasimpregnable。ShetooktoherselfallthecreditofbringingMr。Rushworth’sadmirationofMariatoanyeffect。“IfIhadnotbeenactive，“saidshe，“andmadeapointofbeingintroducedtohismother，andthenprevailedonmysistertopaythefirstvisit，IamascertainasIsitherethatnothingwouldhavecomeofit；forMr。Rushworthisthesortofamiablemodestyoungmanwhowantsagreatdealofencouragement，andthereweregirlsenoughonthecatchforhimifwehadbeenidle。ButIleftnostoneunturned。Iwasreadytomoveheavenandearthtopersuademysister，andatlastIdidpersuadeher。YouknowthedistancetoSotherton；itwasinthemiddleofwinter，andtheroadsalmostimpassable，butIdidpersuadeher。“

“Iknowhowgreat，howjustlygreat，yourinfluenceiswithLadyBertramandherchildren，andamthemoreconcernedthatitshouldnothavebeen。“

“MydearSirThomas，ifyouhadseenthestateoftheroads_that_day!Ithoughtweshouldneverhavegotthroughthem，thoughwehadthefourhorsesofcourse；

andpooroldcoachmanwouldattendus，outofhisgreatloveandkindness，thoughhewashardlyabletosittheboxonaccountoftherheumatismwhichIhadbeendoctoringhimforeversinceMichaelmas。Icuredhimatlast；

buthewasverybadallthewinter——andthiswassuchaday，Icouldnothelpgoingtohimupinhisroombeforewesetofftoadvisehimnottoventure：hewasputtingonhiswig；

soIsaid，’Coachman，youhadmuchbetternotgo；yourLadyandIshallbeverysafe；youknowhowsteadyStephenis，andCharleshasbeenupontheleaderssooftennow，thatIamsurethereisnofear。’But，however，Isoonfounditwouldnotdo；hewasbentupongoing，andasI

hatetobeworryingandofficious，Isaidnomore；butmyheartquiteachedforhimateveryjolt，andwhenwegotintotheroughlanesaboutStoke，where，whatwithfrostandsnowuponbedsofstones，itwasworsethananythingyoucanimagine，Iwasquiteinanagonyabouthim。

Andthenthepoorhorsestoo!Toseethemstrainingaway!

YouknowhowIalwaysfeelforthehorses。AndwhenwegottothebottomofSandcroftHill，whatdoyouthinkIdid？

Youwilllaughatme；butIgotoutandwalkedup。

Ididindeed。Itmightnotbesavingthemmuch，butitwassomething，andIcouldnotbeartositatmyeaseandbedraggedupattheexpenseofthosenobleanimals。

Icaughtadread

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