Edmund said no more to either lady; but going quietly to another table, on which the supper-tray yet remained, brought a glass of Madeira to Fanny, and obliged her to drink the greater part. She wished to be able to decline it; but the tears, which a variety of feelings created, made it easier to swallow than to speak.

Vexed as Edmund was with his mother and aunt, he was still more angry with himself. His own forgetfulness of her was worse than anything which they had done. Nothing of this would have happened had she been properly considered. But she had been left four days without any choice of companions or riding exercise, and without any excuse for avoiding whatever her unreasonable aunts might require. He was ashamed, and very seriously resolved, however unwilling he must be to check a pleasure of Miss Crawford’s, that it should never happen again.

Fanny went to bed with her heart as full of Edmund’s unexpected kindness as on the first evening of her arrival at the Park.

Chapter VIII

Fanny’s rides recommenced the very next day. And as it was a pleasant fresh-feeling morning, Edmund trusted that her losses, both of health and pleasure, would be soon made good. While she was gone Mr. Rushworth arrived, growling randomly in his usual manner—which the rest of the fine company made a delicate point of ignoring as one might overlook the unfortunate liberties of Bedlam, if Bedlam were to possess a fine estate such as Sotherton.

In addition, Mr. Rushworth escorted his mother (who did not growl even once, though she seemed to start in abject distaste at each instance of her son’s affectation). Mrs. Rushworth came to be civil and to shew her civility in supporting their grand plan to visit Sotherton. Mrs. Norris and her nieces were all well pleased with its revival, and an early day was named and agreed to, provided Mr. Crawford should be disengaged. On a hint from Miss Bertram, Mr. Rushworth discovered that the properest thing to be done was for him to walk down to the Parsonage directly, and call on Mr. Crawford, and inquire whether Wednesday would suit him or not.

Before his return Mrs. Grant and Miss Crawford came in. Having been out some time, and taken a different route to the house, they had not met him, seeing instead only some lumbering fellow going around in circles in the distance—such shoddy clothing he had on, and remarkably bad skin—one might almost say it was peeling. . . .