Fanny’s representation of her cousin’s state was exactly according to her own belief of it, and would convey to the sanguine mind of her vampiric correspondent the hope of everything she was wishing for. Edmund would be forgiven for being a clergyman, it seemed, under certain conditions of wealth. And this, she suspected, was the full extent of any “conquest of prejudice” with which he was so ready to congratulate himself.

Mary had only learnt to think nothing of consequence but money.

Chapter XLVI

As Fanny could not doubt that her answer was a disappointment to Mary, she was rather in expectation, from her knowledge of Miss Crawford’s temper, of being urged again. Though no second letter arrived for the space of a week, she had still the same feeling when it did come.

On receiving it, she noted instantly how it contained little writing, and had the air of a letter of haste and business.

Its object seemed unquestionable. At first Fanny feared it was to give her notice that they should be in Portsmouth that very day to fetch her (which threw her into agitation and doubt of what to do in such a case). However, this was the letter—

“A most scandalous, ill-natured rumour has just reached me, and I write, dear Fanny, to warn you against giving the least credit to it, should it spread into the country.

“Depend upon it, there is some mistake, and a day or two will clear it up. At any rate, Henry is blameless, and in spite of a moment’s etourderie, thinks of nobody but you.

“Say not a word of it; hear nothing, surmise nothing, whisper nothing till I write again. I am sure it will be all hushed up, and nothing proved but Rushworth’s folly. If they are gone, I would lay my life they are only gone to Mansfield Park, and Julia with them. But why would not you let us come for you? I wish you may not repent it.—Yours, etc.”

Fanny stood aghast. As no scandalous, ill-natured rumour had reached her, it was impossible for her to understand much of this strange letter.

She could only perceive that it must relate to Wimpole Street and Mr. Crawford. And she could only conjecture that something very imprudent had just occurred in that quarter to draw the notice of the world—and to excite her jealousy, in Miss Crawford’s apprehension, if she heard it.

Miss Crawford need not be alarmed for her. She was only sorry for the parties concerned and for Mansfield, if the report should spread so far. But she hoped it might not. If the Rushworths were gone themselves to Mansfield, as was to be inferred from what Miss Crawford said, it was not likely that anything unpleasant should have preceded them.