Edmund Bertram's Diary

‘A woman can never be too fine while she is all In white. Besides, it is your first dinner invitation, and so it is a special occasion.’

As we passed the stable yard I saw a carriage.

‘Who have they got to meet us?’ I said. I let down the side-glass to have a better look. ‘It is Crawford’s barouche. This is quite a surprise, Fanny. I shall be very glad to see him.’

Fanny was distinguished as we went in, and she was fussed over in a way that, whilst it confounded her, delighted me. I will be happy indeed when she can take these little attentions as a matter of course, for then my little Fanny will have truly grown up and taken her natural place in the world.

Conversation flowed easily, and Crawford entertained us all with tales of his stay in Bath.

‘I am glad to have you back, Henry, my boy,’ said Dr Grant, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes after one of Crawford’s anecdotes. ‘You must stay awhile.’

‘But I have to return to my own estate,’ said Crawford.

‘Nonsense! It can manage without you a little longer. What do you say, Mary?’

‘Yes, Henry, do stay,’ Mary urged, with the most pleasing sisterly affection.

‘I have nothing here...’ said Crawford.

‘What does that signify?’ said Dr Grant. ‘You can send for your hunters.’

‘Nothing would be easier,’ I said, thinking how lucky we would be to have another gentleman for company over the winter, especial y one as well informed, and agreeable to the ladies, as Crawford.

‘And what say you, Miss Price?’ asked Crawford, turning to Fanny. I blessed him for bringing her forward, for she was inclined to be silent, overawed by so much company.

She flushed and said nothing.

‘Do you think this weather will last?’ he persevered.

‘I cannot say,’ she returned in confusion.

‘Should I send for my hunters?’

‘I real y do not think I can give an opinion,’ she said.

‘Well, then,’ said Crawford, continuing with the breeding and kindness of a true gentleman, ‘do you think I should stay?’

‘It is not for me to say.’

‘But you would not dislike it?’

‘No,’ she said, when pressed. ‘I should not dislike it.’

‘Then it is settled.’

He smiled at her, and Fanny managed a small smile in return, and though it was no more than civility demanded I was glad she had managed so much.

My sisters were, of course, mentioned. After dinner, Crawford spoke of Maria’s marriage, saying, ‘Rushworth and his fair bride are at Brighton, I understand?’

Mary drew Fanny into the conversation with quite as much kindness as her brother, saying,

‘Yes, they have been there about a fortnight, Miss Price, have they not? And Julia is with them.’

‘How we miss them. You were Mr. Rushworth’s best friend,’ he said to Fanny. ‘Your kindness and patience can never be forgotten, your indefatigable patience in trying to make it possible for him to learn his part. He might not have sense enough to estimate your kindness, but I may venture to say that it had honor from all the rest of the party.’

I smiled to see her so well entertained, and by such an agreeable man. I was about to speak to Mary when Dr Grant claimed my attention.

‘About your living, Edmund,’ he said. ‘You will be ordained at Christmas, I believe?’

‘Yes, that is so. I will be going to stay with my friend Owen and we will be ordained together.’

‘And you will then come into the living. well, it is not a bad living, the one at Thornton Lacey...?’

‘Seven hundred pounds a year.’

‘Just so. Not a bad living. But it could be improved.’

He gave me the benefit of his advice, and once we had finished our discussion, Crawford said, ‘I shall make a point of coming to Mansfield to hear you preach your first sermon. I shall come on purpose to encourage a young beginner. When is it to be? Miss Price, will not you join me in encouraging your cousin? will not you engage to attend with your eyes steadily fixed on him the whole time — as I shall do — not to lose a word; or only looking off just to note down any sentence preeminently beautiful? We will provide ourselves with tablets and a pencil. When will it be? You must preach at Mansfield, you know,’ he said to me, ‘that Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram may hear you.’

‘I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can,’ I said with a wry smile, for he would be sure to disconcert me.

The party broke up, and I am persuaded Fanny enjoyed her evening in company, and will have many more such evenings to come.

DECEMBER

Friday 2 December

Business taking me up to town, I cal ed in to the jewelers and ordered a gold chain for Fanny. Now that she is going out and about she will need some adornment, and it will give me great pleasure to give her such a gift. I looked at a variety but in the end I chose a simple chain so that she will be able to wear it on any occasion. I asked for it to be shortened as it was rather long for her and I was told it would not be ready until I had left town. When I cal ed on Tom, I asked him if he would collect it for me. He promised to do so, and to send it on to me at Mansfield.