The ensuing spring deprived her of her valued friend the old grey pony,and for some time she was in danger of feeling the loss in her health as well as in her affections,for in spite of the acknowledged importance of her riding on horseback,no measures were taken for mounting her again,‘because,’as it was observed by her aunts,‘she might ride one of her cousins'horses at any time when they did not want them;’and as the Miss Bertrams regularly wanted their horses every fine day,and had no idea of carrying their obliging manners to the sacrifice of any real pleasure,that time of course never came.They took their cheerful rides in the fine mornings of April and May;and Fanny either sat at home the whole day with one aunt,or walked beyond her strength at the instigation of the other;Lady Bertram holding exercise to be as unnecessary for everybody as it was unpleasant to herself;and Mrs Norris,who was walking all day,thinking everybody ought to walk as much.Edmund was absent at this time,or the evil would have been earlier remedied.When he returned to understand how Fanny was situated,and perceive its ill effects,there seemed with him but one thing to be done,and that ‘Fanny must have a horse,’was the resolute declaration with which he opposed whatever could be urged by the supineness of his mother,or the economy of his aunt,to make it appear unimportant.Mrs Norris could not help thinking that some steady old thing might be found among the numbers belonging to the Park,that would do vastly well,or that one might be borrowed of the steward,or that perhaps Dr Grant might now and then lend them the pony he sent to the post.She could not but consider it as absolutely unnecessary,and even improper,that Fanny should have a regular lady's horse of her own in the style of her cousins.She was sure Sir Thomas had never intended it;and she must say,that to be making such a purchase in his absence,and adding to the great expenses of his stable at a time when a large part of his income was unsettled,seemed to her very unjustifiable.‘Fanny must have a horse,’was Edmund's only reply.Mrs Norris could not see it in the same light.Lady Bertram did;she entirely agreed with her son as to the necessity of it,and as to its being considered necessary by his father;-she only pleaded against there being any hurry,she only wanted him to wait till Sir Thomas's return,and then Sir Thomas might settle it all himself.He would be at home in September,and where would be the harm of only waiting till September?
Though Edmund was much more displeased with his aunt than with his mother,as evincing least regard for her niece,he could not help paying more attention to what she said,and at length determined on a method of proceeding which would obviate the risk of his father's thinking he had done too much,and at the same time procure for Fanny the immediate means of exercise,which he could not bear she should be without.He had three horses of his own,but not one that would carry a woman.Two of them were hunters;the third,a useful road-horse:this third he resolved to exchange for one that his cousin might ride;he knew where such a one was to be met with,and having once made up his mind,the whole business was soon completed.The new mare proved a treasure;with a very little trouble,she became exactly calculated for the purpose,and Fanny was then put in almost full possession of her.She had not supposed before,that anything could ever suit her like the old grey pony;but her delight in Edmund's mare was far beyond any former pleasure of the sort;and the addition it was ever receiving in the consideration of that kindness from which her pleasure sprung,was beyond all her words to express.She regarded her cousin as an example of everything good and great,as possessing worth,which no one but herself could ever appreciate,and as entitled to such gratitude from her,as no feelings could be strong enough to pay.Her sentiments towards him were compounded of all that was respectful,grateful,confiding,and tender.
As the horse continued in name as well as fact,the property of Edmund,Mrs Norris could tolerate its being for Fanny's use;and had Lady Bertram ever thought about her own objection again,he might have been excused in her eyes,for not waiting till Sir Thomas's return in September,for when September came,Sir Thomas was still abroad,and without any near prospect of finishing his business.Unfavourable circumstances had suddenly arisen at a moment when he was beginning to turn all his thoughts towards England,and the very great uncertainty in which everything was then involved,determined him on sending home his son,and waiting the final arrangement by himself.Tom arrived safely,bringing an excellent account of his father's health;but to very little purpose,as far as Mrs Norris was concerned.Sir Thomas's sending away his son,seemed to her so like a parent's care,under the influence of a foreboding of evil to himself,that she could not help feeling dreadful presentiments;and as the long evenings of autumn came on,was so terribly haunted by these ideas,in the sad solitariness of her cottage,as to be obliged to take daily refuge in the dining room of the park.The return of winter engagements,however,was not without its effect;and in the course of their progress,her mind became so pleasantly occupied in superintending the fortunes of her eldest niece,as tolerably to quiet her nerves.‘If poor Sir Thomas were fated never to return,it would be peculiarly consoling to see their dear Maria well married,’she very often thought;always when they were in the company of men of fortune,and particularly on the introduction of a young man who had recently succeeded to one of the largest estates and finest places in the country.
