第89章

Heraweofheruncle，andherdreadoftakingalibertywithhim，madeitinstantlyplaintoherwhatshehadtodo。Shemustabsolutelydeclinetheproposal。

Ifhewanted，hewouldsendforher；andeventoofferanearlyreturnwasapresumptionwhichhardlyanythingwouldhaveseemedtojustify。ShethankedMissCrawford，butgaveadecidednegative。“Heruncle，sheunderstood，meanttofetchher；andashercousin’sillnesshadcontinuedsomanyweekswithoutherbeingthoughtatallnecessary，shemustsupposeherreturnwouldbeunwelcomeatpresent，andthatsheshouldbefeltanencumbrance。“

Herrepresentationofhercousin’sstateatthistimewasexactlyaccordingtoherownbeliefofit，andsuchasshesupposedwouldconveytothesanguinemindofhercorrespondentthehopeofeverythingshewaswishingfor。

Edmundwouldbeforgivenforbeingaclergyman，itseemed，undercertainconditionsofwealth；andthis，shesuspected，wasalltheconquestofprejudicewhichhewassoreadytocongratulatehimselfupon。Shehadonlylearnttothinknothingofconsequencebutmoney。

AsFannycouldnotdoubtthatheranswerwasconveyingarealdisappointment，shewasratherinexpectation，fromherknowledgeofMissCrawford’stemper，ofbeingurgedagain；andthoughnosecondletterarrivedforthespaceofaweek，shehadstillthesamefeelingwhenitdidcome。

Onreceivingit，shecouldinstantlydecideonitscontaininglittlewriting，andwaspersuadedofitshavingtheairofaletterofhasteandbusiness。

Itsobjectwasunquestionable；andtwomomentswereenoughtostarttheprobabilityofitsbeingmerelytogivehernoticethattheyshouldbeinPortsmouththatveryday，andtothrowherintoalltheagitationofdoubtingwhatsheoughttodoinsuchacase。

Iftwomoments，however，cansurroundwithdifficulties，athirdcandispersethem；andbeforeshehadopenedtheletter，thepossibilityofMr。andMissCrawford’shavingappliedtoheruncleandobtainedhispermissionwasgivingherease。Thiswastheletter——

“Amostscandalous，ill-naturedrumourhasjustreachedme，andIwrite，dearFanny，towarnyouagainstgivingtheleastcredittoit，shoulditspreadintothecountry。

Dependuponit，thereissomemistake，andthatadayortwowillclearitup；atanyrate，thatHenryisblameless，andinspiteofamoment’s_etourderie_，thinksofnobodybutyou。Saynotawordofit；hearnothing，surmisenothing，whispernothingtillIwriteagain。

Iamsureitwillbeallhushedup，andnothingprovedbutRushworth’sfolly。Iftheyaregone，IwouldlaymylifetheyareonlygonetoMansfieldPark，andJuliawiththem。Butwhywouldnotyouletuscomeforyou？

Iwishyoumaynotrepentit——Yours，etc。“

Fannystoodaghast。Asnoscandalous，ill-naturedrumourhadreachedher，itwasimpossibleforhertounderstandmuchofthisstrangeletter。ShecouldonlyperceivethatitmustrelatetoWimpoleStreetandMr。Crawford，andonlyconjecturethatsomethingveryimprudenthadjustoccurredinthatquartertodrawthenoticeoftheworld，andtoexci

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