Fanny’s gratitude, when she heard the plan, was, in fact, much greater than her pleasure. She felt Edmund’s kindness with all the sensibility which he, unsuspicious of her fond attachment, could be aware of. But that he should forego any enjoyment on her account gave her pain, and her own satisfaction in seeing Sotherton would be nothing without him.

The next meeting of the two Mansfield families produced another alteration in the plan, and one that was admitted with general approbation. Mrs. Grant offered herself as companion for the day to Lady Bertram in lieu of her son, and Dr. Grant was to join them at dinner. Lady Bertram was very well pleased to have it so, and the young ladies were in spirits again. Even Edmund was very thankful for an arrangement which restored him to his share of the party. And Mrs. Norris thought it an excellent plan.

Wednesday was fine, and soon after breakfast the barouche arrived, Mr. Crawford driving his sisters. Since everybody was ready, there was nothing to be done but for Mrs. Grant to alight and the others to take their places. The place of all places, the envied seat, the post of honour, was unappropriated. To whose happy lot was it to fall? While each of the Miss Bertrams were meditating how best (and with the most appearance of obliging the others) to secure it, the matter was settled by Mrs. Grant’s saying, as she stepped from the carriage, “As there are five of you, it will be better that one should sit with Henry. As you were saying lately that you wished you could drive, Julia, I think this will be a good opportunity for you to take a lesson.”

Happy Julia! Unhappy Maria! The former was on the barouche-box in a moment, the latter took her seat within, in gloom and mortification; and the carriage drove off amid the good wishes of the two remaining ladies, and the barking of pug in his mistress’s arms—

And, a somewhat unusual creaking of wooden crates stored all around the estate, and the consequent stirring of their mummified occupants. . . .

It was indeed the Moment.

Lady Bertram immediately came up with a scheme to occupy Mrs. Grant in the drawing room with some needlework and excused herself, saying “she will be away for just a moment or two.” She then left the chamber.

Finding herself at last truly all alone, but for the pug and the bounty of Egypt, Lady Bertram betoke herself upstairs immediately, rushing rather breathlessly, and then walked in the dimness of the attic corridor, past Fanny’s little room and paused before another—the door of the mysterious chamber that she visited so often. She turned the lock and then opened it.

And at last, dear Reader, we may follow Lady Bertram inside.