@@@@@Rushworth to her son, “I believe the
@@@@@Rushworth to her son, “I believe the wilderness
will be new to all the partyThe Miss Bertrams have never seen
the wilderness yet
No objection was made, but for some time there seemed no inclination
to move in any plan, or to any distanceAll were attracted at
first by the plants or the pheasants, and all dispersed about in happy
independenceCrawford was the first to move forward to examine
the capabilities of that end of the houseThe lawn, bounded
on each side by a high wall, contained beyond the first planted area
a bowling-green, and beyond the bowling-green a long terrace walk,
backed by iron palisades, and commanding a view over them into
the tops of the trees of the wilderness immediately adjoiningIt was
a good spot for fault-findingCrawford was soon followed by
Miss Bertram and MrRushworth; and when, after a little time, the
others began to form into parties, these three were found in busy
consultation on the terrace by Edmund, Miss Crawford, and Fanny,
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who seemed as naturally to unite, and who, after a short participation
of their regrets and difficulties, left them and walked onThe
remaining three, MrsNorris, and Julia, were still
far behind; for Julia, whose happy star no longer prevailed, was
obliged to keep by the side of MrsRushworth, and restrain her
impatient feet to that lady’s slow pace, while her aunt, having fallen
in with the housekeeper, who was come out to feed the pheasants,
was lingering behind in gossip with herPoor Julia, the only one out
of the nine not tolerably satisfied with their lot, was now in a state
of complete penance, and as different from the Julia of the barouchebox
as could well be imaginedThe politeness which she had been
brought up to practise as a duty made it impossible for her to escape;
while the want of that higher species of self-command, that
just consideration of others, that knowledge of her own heart, that
principle of right, which had not formed any essential part of her
education, made her miserable under it
“This is insufferably hot,” said Miss Crawford, when they had
taken one turn on the terrace, and were drawing a second time to
the door in the middle which opened to the wilderness“Shall any
of us object to being comfortable? Here is a nice little wood, if one
can but get into itWhat happiness if the door should not be locked!
but of course it is; for in these great places the gardeners are the only
people who can go where they like
The door, however, proved not to be locked, and they were all
agreed in turning joyfully through it, and leaving the unmitigated
glare of day behindA considerable flight of steps landed them in
the wilderness, which was a planted wood of about two acres, and
though chiefly of larch and laurel, and beech cut down, and though
laid out with too much regularity, was darkness and shade, and natural
beauty, compared with the bowling-green and the terraceThey
all felt the refreshment of it, and for some time could only walk and
admireAt length, after a short pause, Miss Crawford began with,
“So you are to be a clergyman, MrThis is rather a surprise
to me
“Why should it surprise you? You must suppose me designed for
some profession, and might perceive that I am neither a lawyer, nor
a soldier, nor a sailor
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“Very true; but, in short, it had not occurred to meAnd you
know there is generally an uncle or a grandfather to leave a fortune
to the second