Chapter XXI

           

           SirThomas’sreturnmadeastrikingchangeinthewaysofthefamily,independentofLovers’Vows.Underhisgovernment,Mansfieldwasanalteredplace.Somemembersoftheirsocietysentaway,andthespiritsofmanyotherssaddened—itwasallsamenessandgloomcomparedwiththepast—asombrefamilypartyrarelyenlivened.TherewaslittleintercoursewiththeParsonage.SirThomas,drawingbackfromintimaciesingeneral,wasparticularlydisinclined,atthistime,foranyengagementsbutinonequarter.TheRushworthsweretheonlyadditiontohisowndomesticcirclewhichhecouldsolicit.

           Edmunddidnotwonderthatsuchshouldbehisfather’sfeelings,norcouldheregretanythingbuttheexclusionoftheGrants.“Butthey,”heobservedtoFanny,“haveaclaim.Theyseemtobelongtous;theyseemtobepartofourselves.Icouldwishmyfatherweremoresensibleoftheirverygreatattentiontomymotherandsisterswhilehewasaway.Iamafraidtheymayfeelthemselvesneglected.Butthetruthis,thatmyfatherhardlyknowsthem.TheyhadnotbeenhereatwelvemonthwhenheleftEngland.Ifheknewthembetter,hewouldvaluetheirsocietyasitdeserves;fortheyareinfactexactlythesortofpeoplehewouldlike.Wearesometimesalittleinwantofanimationamongourselves:mysistersseemoutofspirits,andTomiscertainlynotathisease.Dr.andMrs.Grantwouldenlivenus,andmakeoureveningspassawaywithmoreenjoymenteventomyfather.”

           “Doyouthinkso?”saidFanny:“inmyopinion,myunclewouldnotlikeanyaddition.

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