第77章

Fannywasallagitationandflutter；allhopeandapprehension。

Themomenttheystopped，atrollopy-lookingmaidservant，seeminglyinwaitingforthematthedoor，steppedforward，andmoreintentontellingthenewsthangivingthemanyhelp，immediatelybeganwith，“TheThrushisgoneoutofharbour，pleasesir，andoneoftheofficershasbeenhereto——

“Shewasinterruptedbyafinetallboyofelevenyearsold，who，rushingoutofthehouse，pushedthemaidaside，andwhileWilliamwasopeningthechaise-doorhimself，calledout，“Youarejustintime。Wehavebeenlookingforyouthishalf-hour。TheThrushwentoutofharbourthismorning。Isawher。Itwasabeautifulsight。

Andtheythinkshewillhaveherordersinadayortwo。

AndMr。Campbellwashereatfouro’clocktoaskforyou：

hehasgotoneoftheThrush’sboats，andisgoingofftoheratsix，andhopedyouwouldbehereintimetogowithhim。“

AstareortwoatFanny，asWilliamhelpedheroutofthecarriage，wasallthevoluntarynoticewhichthisbrotherbestowed；buthemadenoobjectiontoherkissinghim，thoughstillentirelyengagedindetailingfartherparticularsoftheThrush’sgoingoutofharbour，inwhichhehadastrongrightofinterest，beingtocommencehiscareerofseamanshipinheratthisverytime。

AnothermomentandFannywasinthenarrowentrance-passageofthehouse，andinhermother’sarms，whomethertherewithlooksoftruekindness，andwithfeatureswhichFannylovedthemore，becausetheybroughtherauntBertram’sbeforeher，andtherewerehertwosisters：

Susan，awell-grownfinegirloffourteen，andBetsey，theyoungestofthefamily，aboutfive——bothgladtoseeherintheirway，thoughwithnoadvantageofmannerinreceivingher。ButmannerFannydidnotwant。

Wouldtheybutloveher，sheshouldbesatisfied。

Shewasthentakenintoaparlour，sosmallthatherfirstconvictionwasofitsbeingonlyapassage-roomtosomethingbetter，andshestoodforamomentexpectingtobeinvitedon；butwhenshesawtherewasnootherdoor，andthatthereweresignsofhabitationbeforeher，shecalledbackherthoughts，reprovedherself，andgrievedlesttheyshouldhavebeensuspected。Hermother，however，couldnotstaylongenoughtosuspectanything。

Shewasgoneagaintothestreet-door，towelcomeWilliam。

“Oh!mydearWilliam，howgladIamtoseeyou。

ButhaveyouheardabouttheThrush？Sheisgoneoutofharbouralready；threedaysbeforewehadanythoughtofit；

andIdonotknowwhatIamtodoaboutSam’sthings，theywillneverbereadyintime；forshemayhaveherordersto-morrow，perhaps。Ittakesmequiteunawares。AndnowyoumustbeoffforSpitheadtoo。Campbellhasbeenhere，quiteinaworryaboutyou；andnowwhatshallwedo？

Ithoughttohavehadsuchacomfortableeveningwithyou，andhereeverythingcomesuponmeatonce。“

Herso

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