第57章

andthen，creepingslowlyuptheprincipalstaircase，pursuedbytheceaselesscountry-dance，feverishwithhopesandfears，soupandnegus，sore-footedandfatigued，restlessandagitated，yetfeeling，inspiteofeverything，thataballwasindeeddelightful。

Inthussendingheraway，SirThomasperhapsmightnotbethinkingmerelyofherhealth。ItmightoccurtohimthatMr。Crawfordhadbeensittingbyherlongenough，orhemightmeantorecommendherasawifebyshewingherpersuadableness。

Theballwasover，andthebreakfastwassoonovertoo；

thelastkisswasgiven，andWilliamwasgone。

Mr。Crawfordhad，asheforetold，beenverypunctual，andshortandpleasanthadbeenthemeal。

AfterseeingWilliamtothelastmoment，Fannywalkedbacktothebreakfast-roomwithaverysaddenedhearttogrieveoverthemelancholychange；andthereherunclekindlylefthertocryinpeace，conceiving，perhaps，thatthedesertedchairofeachyoungmanmightexercisehertenderenthusiasm，andthattheremainingcoldporkbonesandmustardinWilliam’splatemightbutdivideherfeelingswiththebrokenegg-shellsinMr。Crawford’s。

Shesatandcried_con__amore_asheruncleintended，butitwas_con__amore_fraternalandnoother。

Williamwasgone，andshenowfeltasifshehadwastedhalfhisvisitinidlecaresandselfishsolicitudesunconnectedwithhim。

Fanny’sdispositionwassuchthatshecouldnevereventhinkofherauntNorrisinthemeagrenessandcheerlessnessofherownsmallhouse，withoutreproachingherselfforsomelittlewantofattentiontoherwhentheyhadbeenlasttogether；muchlesscouldherfeelingsacquitherofhavingdoneandsaidandthoughteverythingbyWilliamthatwasduetohimforawholefortnight。

Itwasaheavy，melancholyday。Soonafterthesecondbreakfast，Edmundbadethemgood-byeforaweek，andmountedhishorseforPeterborough，andthenallweregone。

Nothingremainedoflastnightbutremembrances，whichshehadnobodytosharein。ShetalkedtoherauntBertram——

shemusttalktosomebodyoftheball；butheraunthadseensolittleofwhathadpassed，andhadsolittlecuriosity，thatitwasheavywork。LadyBertramwasnotcertainofanybody’sdressoranybody’splaceatsupperbutherown。

“ShecouldnotrecollectwhatitwasthatshehadheardaboutoneoftheMissMaddoxes，orwhatitwasthatLadyPrescotthadnoticedinFanny：shewasnotsurewhetherColonelHarrisonhadbeentalkingofMr。CrawfordorofWilliamwhenhesaidhewasthefinestyoungmanintheroom——

somebodyhadwhisperedsomethingtoher；shehadforgottoaskSirThomaswhatitcouldbe。“Andthesewereherlongestspeechesandclearestcommunications：therestwasonlyalanguid“Yes，yes；verywell；didyou？didhe？

Ididnotsee_that_；Ishouldnotknowonefromtheother。“

Thiswasverybad。ItwasonlybetterthanMrs。Norris’ssharpanswerswouldhavebeen；butshebeinggonehomewithallthesupernumeraryjelliestonurseasickmaid，therewaspeaceandgood-humourintheirlittleparty，thoughitcouldnotboastmuchbeside。

Theeveningwasheavyliketheday。“Icannotthinkwhatisthematterwithme，“saidLadyBertram，whenthetea-thingswereremoved。“Ifeelquitestupid。

Itmustbesittingupsolatelastnight。Fanny，youmustdosomethingtokeepmeawake。Icannotwork。

Fetchthecards；Ifeelsov

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