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placed before her eyes than the rest. It was of gold prettily worked; and though Fanny would have
preferred a longer and a plainer chain as more adapted for her purpose, she hoped in fixing on this, to be
choosing what Miss Crawford least wished to keep. Miss Crawford smiled her perfect approbation; and
hastened to complete the gift by putting the necklace round her and making her see how well it looked.
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Fanny had not a word to say against its becomingness, and excepting what remained of her scruples,
was exceedingly pleased with an acquisition so very apropos. She would rather perhaps have been
obliged to some other person. But this was an unworthy feeling. Miss Crawford had anticipated her
wants with a kindness which proved her a real friend. "When I wear this necklace I shall always think of
you," said she, "and feel how very kind you were."
"You must think of somebody else too when you wear that necklace," replied Miss Crawford. "You
must think of Henry, for it was his choice in the first place. He gave it to me, and with the necklace I
make over to you all the duty of remembering the original giver. It is to be a family remembrance. The
sister is not to be in your mind without bringing the brother too."
Fanny, in great astonishment and confusion, would have returned the present instantly. To take what had
been the gift of another person of a brother too impossible! it must not be! and with an eagerness
and embarrassment quite diverting to her companion, she laid down the necklace again on its cotton, and
seemed resolved either to take another or none at all. Miss Crawford thought she had never seen a
prettier consciousness. "My dear child," said she laughing, "what are you afraid of? Do you think Henry
will claim the necklace as mine, and fancy you did not come honestly by it? or are you imagining he
would be too much flattered by seeing round your lovely throat an ornament which his money purchased
three years ago, before he knew there was such a throat in the world? or perhaps looking
archly you suspect a confederacy between us, and that what I am now doing is with his knowledge and
at his desire?"
With the deepest blushes Fanny protested against such a thought.
"Well then," replied Miss Crawford more seriously but without at all believing her, "to convince me that
you suspect no trick, and are as unsuspicious of compliment as I have always found you, take the
necklace, and say no more about it. Its being a gift of my brother's need not make the smallest difference
in your accepting it, as I assure you it makes none in my willingness to part with it. He is always giving me
something or other. I have such innumerable presents from him that it is quite impossible for me to value,
or for him to remember half. And as for this necklace, I do not suppose I have worn it six times; it is very
pretty but I never think of it; and though you would be most heartily welcome to any other in my
trinket-box, you have happened to fix on the very one which, if I have a choice, I would rather part with
and see in your possession than any other. Say no more against it, I entreat you. Such a trifle is not worth
half so many words."
Fanny dared not make any further opposition; and with renewed but less happy thanks accepted the
necklace again, for there was an expression in Miss Crawford's eyes which she could not be satisfied
with.
It was impossible for her to be insensible of Mr. Crawford's change of manners. She had long seen it.
He evidently tried to please her he was gallant he was attentive he was something like what he had
been to her cousins: he wanted, she supposed, to cheat her of her tranquillity as he had cheated them;
and whether he might not have some concern in this necklace! She could not be convinced that he had
not, for Miss Crawford, complaisant as a sister, was careless as a woman and a friend.
Reflecting and doubting, and feeling that the possession of what she had so much wished for, did not
bring much satisfaction, she now walked home again with a change rather than a diminution of cares
since her treading that path before.
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Chapter 27
On reaching home, Fanny went immediately upstairs to deposit this unexpected acquisition, this doubtful
good of a necklace, in some favorite box in the east room which held all her smaller treasures; but on
opening the door, what was her surprise to find her cousin Edmund there writing at the table! Such a sight
having never occurred before, was almost as wonderful as it was welcome.
"Fanny," said he directly, leaving his seat and his pen, and meeting her with something in his hand, "I beg [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]