Rushworth had, perhaps, been accepted on too short an acquaintance,
and, on knowing him better, she was repenting
With solemn kindness Sir Thomas addressed her: told her his fears,
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inquired into her wishes, entreated her to be open and sincere, and
assured her that every inconvenience should be braved, and the
connexion entirely given up, if she felt herself unhappy in the prospect
of itHe would act for her and release herMaria had a moment?s
struggle as she listened, and only a moment?s: when her father ceased,
she was able to give her answer immediately, decidedly, and with no
apparent agitationShe thanked him for his great attention, his paternal
kindness, but he was quite mistaken in supposing she had the
smallest desire of breaking through her engagement, or was sensible
of any change of opinion or inclination since her forming itShe
had the highest esteem for MrRushworth?s character and disposition,
and could not have a doubt of her happiness with him
Sir Thomas was satisfied; too glad to be satisfied, perhaps, to urge
the matter quite so far as his judgment might have dictated to others
It was an alliance which he could not have relinquished without
pain; and thus he reasonedRushworth was young enough to
improveRushworth must and would improve in good society;
and if Maria could now speak so securely of her happiness with
him, speaking certainly without the prejudice, the blindness of love,
she ought to be believedHer feelings, probably, were not acute; he
had never supposed them to be so; but her http://www.enluxury.com/categorys_11_Necklace-Pendants_1.html" target="_blank comforts might not be
less on that account; and if she could dispense with seeing her husband
a leading, shining character, there would certainly be everything
else in her favourA well-disposed young woman, who did
not marry for love, was in general but the more attached to her own
family; and the nearness of Sotherton to Mansfield must naturally
hold out the greatest temptation, and would, in all probability, be a
continual supply of the most amiable and innocent enjoyments
Such and such-like were the reasonings of Sir Thomas, happy to
escape the embarrassing evils of a rupture, the wonder, the reflections,
the reproach that must attend it; happy to secure a marriage
which would bring him such an addition of respectability and influence,
and very happy to think anything of his daughter?s disposition
that was most favourable for the purpose
To her the conference closed as satisfactorily as to himShe was in
a state of mind to be glad that she had secured her fate beyond
recall: that she had pledged herself anew to Sotherton; that she was
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safe from the possibility of giving Crawford the triumph of governing
her actions, and destroying her prospects; and retired in proud
resolve, determined only to behave more cautiously to Mr
Rushworth in future, that her father might not be again suspecting
her
Had Sir Thomas applied to his daughter within the first three or
four days after Henry Crawford?s leaving Mansfield, before her feelings
were at all tranquillised, before she had given up every hope of
him, or absolutely http://www.culuxury.com/categorys_94_Chanel-Purse_1.html" target="_blank resolved on enduring his rival, her answer might
have been different; but after another three or four days, when there
was no return, no letter, no message, no symptom of a softened heart,
no hope of advantage from separation, her mind became cool enough
to seek all the comfort that pride and self revenge could give
Henry Crawford had destroyed her happiness, but he should not
know that he had done it; he should not destroy her credit, her
appearance, her prosperity, tooHe should not have to think of her
as pining in the retirement of Mansfield for him, rejecting Sotherton
and London, independence and splendour, for his sakeIndependence
was more needful than ever; the want of it at Mansfield more
sensibly feltShe was less and less able to endure the restraint which
her father imposedThe liberty which his absence had given was
now become absolutely necessaryShe must escape from him and
Mansfield as soon as possible, and find consolation in fortune and
consequence, bustle and the world, for a wounded spiritHer mind
was quite determined, and varied not
To such feelings delay, even the delay of much preparation, would
have been an evil, and MrRushworth could hardly be more impatient
for the marriage than herselfIn all the important preparations
of the mind she was complete: being prepared for matrimony by an
hatred of home, restraint, and tranquillity; by the misery of disappointed
affection, and contempt of the man she was to marryThe preparations of new carriages and furniture
might wait for London and spring, when her own taste could http://www.muluxury.com/category_6_Fendi_1.html" target="_blank have
fairer play
The principals being all agreed in this respect, it soon appeared
that a very few weeks would be sufficient for such arrangements as
must precede the wedding
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MrsRushworth was quite ready to retire, and make way for the
fortunate young woman whom her dear son had selected; and very
early in November removed herself, her maid, her footman, and her
chariot, with true dowager propriety, to Bath, there to parade over
the wonders of Sotherton in her evening parties; enjoying them as
thoroughly, perhaps, in the animation of a card-table, as she had
ever done on the spot; and before the middle of the same month the
ceremony had taken place which gave Sotherton another mistress
It was a very proper weddingThe bride was elegantly dressed; the
two bridesmaids were duly inferior; her father gave her away; her
mother stood with salts in her hand, expecting to be agitated; her
aunt tried to cry; and the service was impressively read by Dr
Nothing could be objected to when it came under the discussion of
the neighbourhood, except that the carriage which conveyed the bride
and bridegroom and Julia from the church-door to Sotherton was the
same chaise which MrRushworth had used for a twelvemonth before
In everything else the etiquette of the day might stand the strictest
investigation
It was done, and they were goneSir Thomas felt as an anxious
father must feel, and was indeed experiencing much of the agitation
which his wife had been apprehensive of for herself, but had fortunately
escapedNorris, most happy http://www.naluxury.com/categorys_9_Monogram-Mini-Lin_1.html" target="_blank to assist in the duties of
the day, by spending it at the Park to support her sister?s spirits, and
drinking the health of MrRushworth in a supernumerary
glass or two, was all joyous delight; for she had made the match;
she had done everything; and no one would have supposed, from
her confident triumph, that she had ever heard of conjugal infelicity
in her life, or could have the smallest insight into the disposition
of the niece who had been brought up under her eye
The plan of the young couple was to proceed, after a few days, to
Brighton, and take a house there for some weeksEvery public place
was new to Maria, and Brighton is almost as gay in winter as in
summerWhen the novelty of amusement there was over, it would
be time for the wider range of London
Julia was to go with them to BrightonSince rivalry between the
sisters had ceased, they had been gradually recovering much of their
former good understanding; and were at least sufficiently friends to
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Jane Austen
make each of them exceedingly glad to be with the other at such a
timeSome other companion than MrRushworth was of the first
consequence to his lady; and Julia was quite as eager for novelty and
pleasure as Maria, though she might not have struggled through so
much to obtain them, and could better bear a subordinate situation
Their departure made another material change at Mansfield, a
chasm which required some time to fill upThe family circle became
greatly contracted; and though the Miss Bertrams had latterly
added little to its gaiety, they could not but be http://www.naluxury.com/categorys_27_Seamaster-300600M_1.html" target="_blank miss