andwithagreatdealofgratitudeonhersideforsuchreadyandkindattention，theyproceededindoors，andupstairs，andweresoondeepintheinterestingsubject。MissCrawford，pleasedwiththeappeal，gaveherallherbestjudgmentandtaste，madeeverythingeasybyhersuggestions，andtriedtomakeeverythingagreeablebyherencouragement。
Thedressbeingsettledinallitsgranderparts——
“Butwhatshallyouhavebywayofnecklace？“saidMissCrawford。“Shallnotyouwearyourbrother’scross？“
Andasshespokeshewasundoingasmallparcel，whichFannyhadobservedinherhandwhentheymet。
Fannyacknowledgedherwishesanddoubtsonthispoint：
shedidnotknowhoweithertowearthecross，ortorefrainfromwearingit。Shewasansweredbyhavingasmalltrinket-boxplacedbeforeher，andbeingrequestedtochusefromamongseveralgoldchainsandnecklaces。
SuchhadbeentheparcelwithwhichMissCrawfordwasprovided，andsuchtheobjectofherintendedvisit：
andinthekindestmannershenowurgedFanny’stakingoneforthecrossandtokeepforhersake，sayingeverythingshecouldthinkoftoobviatethescrupleswhichweremakingFannystartbackatfirstwithalookofhorrorattheproposal。
“YouseewhatacollectionIhave，“saidshe；“morebyhalfthanIeveruseorthinkof。Idonotofferthemasnew。
Ioffernothingbutanoldnecklace。Youmustforgivetheliberty，andobligeme。“
Fannystillresisted，andfromherheart。Thegiftwastoovaluable。ButMissCrawfordpersevered，andarguedthecasewithsomuchaffectionateearnestnessthroughalltheheadsofWilliamandthecross，andtheball，andherself，astobefinallysuccessful。Fannyfoundherselfobligedtoyield，thatshemightnotbeaccusedofprideorindifference，orsomeotherlittleness；
andhavingwithmodestreluctancegivenherconsent，proceededtomaketheselection。Shelookedandlooked，longingtoknowwhichmightbeleastvaluable；andwasdeterminedinherchoiceatlast，byfancyingtherewasonenecklacemorefrequentlyplacedbeforehereyesthantherest。Itwasofgold，prettilyworked；andthoughFannywouldhavepreferredalongerandaplainerchainasmoreadaptedforherpurpose，shehoped，infixingonthis，tobechusingwhatMissCrawfordleastwishedtokeep。
MissCrawfordsmiledherperfectapprobation；andhastenedtocompletethegiftbyputtingthenecklaceroundher，andmakingherseehowwellitlooked。Fannyhadnotawordtosayagainstitsbecomingness，and，exceptingwhatremainedofherscruples，wasexceedinglypleasedwithanacquisitionsoveryapropos。Shewouldrather，perhaps，havebeenobligedtosomeotherperson。Butthiswasanunworthyfeeling。MissCrawfordhadanticipatedherwantswithakindnesswhichprovedherarealfriend。
“WhenIwearthisnecklaceIshallalwaysthinkofyou，“
saidshe，“andfeelhowverykindyouwere。“
“Youmustthinkofsomebodyelsetoo，whenyouwearthatnecklace，“repliedMissCrawford。“YoumustthinkofHenry，foritwashischoiceinthefirstplace。
Hegaveittome，andwiththenecklaceImakeovertoyouallthedutyofrememberingtheoriginalgiver。
Itistobeafamilyremembrancer。Thesisterisnottobeinyourmindwithoutbringingthebrothertoo。“
Fanny，ingreatastonishmentandconfusion，wouldhavereturnedthepresentinstantly。Totakewhathadbeenthegiftofanotherperson，ofabrothertoo，impossible!itmustnotbe!andwithaneagernessandembarrassmentquitedivertingtohercompanion，shelaiddownthenecklaceagainonitscotton，andseemedresolvedeithertotakeanotherornoneatall。MissCrawfordthoughtshehadneverseenaprettierconsciousness。
“Mydearchild，“saidshe，laughing，“whatareyouafraidof？
DoyouthinkHenrywillclaimthenecklaceasmine，andfancyyoudidnotcomehonestlybyit？orareyouimagininghewouldbetoomuchflatteredbyseeingroundyourlovelythroatanornamentwhichhismoneypurchasedthreeyearsago，beforeheknewtherewassuchathroatintheworld？orperhaps“——lookingarchly——
“yoususpectaconfederacybetweenus，andthatwhatIamnowdoingiswithhisknowledgeandathisdesire？“
WiththedeepestblushesFannyprotestedagainstsuchathought。
“Well，then，“repliedMissCrawfordmoreseriously，butwithoutatallbelievingher，“toconvincemethatyoususpectnotrick，andareasunsuspiciousofcomplimentasIhavealwaysfoundyou，takethenecklaceandsaynomoreaboutit。Itsbeingagiftofmybrother’sneednotmakethesmallestdifferenceinyouracceptingit，asIassureyouitmakesnoneinmywillingnesstopartwithit。Heisalwaysgivingmesomethingorother。
Ihavesuchinnumerablepresentsfromhimthatitisquiteimpossibleformetovalueorforhimtorememberhalf。
Andasforthisnecklace，IdonotsupposeIhavewornitsixtimes：itisverypretty，butIneverthinkofit；
andthoughyouwouldbemostheartilywelcometoanyotherinmytrinket-box，youhavehappenedtofixontheveryonewhich，ifIhaveachoice，Iwouldratherpartwithandseeinyourpossessionthananyother。
Saynomoreagainstit，Ientreatyou。Suchatrifleisnotworthhalfsomanywords。“
Fannydarednotmakeanyfartheropposition；andwithrenewedbutlesshappythanksacceptedthenecklaceagain，fortherewasanexpressioninMissCrawford’seyeswhichshecouldnotbesatisfiedwith。
ItwasimpossibleforhertobeinsensibleofMr。Crawford’schangeofmanners。Shehadlongseenit。Heevidentlytriedtopleaseher：hewasgallant，hewasattentive，hewassomethinglikewhathehadbeentohercousins：
hewanted，shesupposed，tocheatherofhertranquillityashehadcheatedthem；andwhetherhemightnothavesomeconcerninthisnecklace——shecouldnotbeconvincedthathehadnot，forMissCrawford，complaisantasasister，wascarelessasawomanandafriend。
Reflectinganddoubting，andfeelingthatthepossessionofwhatshehadsomuchwishedfordidnotbringmuchsatisfaction，shenowwalkedhomeagain，withachangeratherthanadiminutionofcaressincehertreadingthatpathbefore。
OnreachinghomeFannywentimmediatelyupstairstodepositthisunexpectedacquisition，thisdoubtfulgoodofanecklace，insomefavouriteboxintheEastroom，whichheldallhersmallertreasures；butonopeningthedoor，whatwashersurprisetofindhercousinEdmundtherewritingatthetable!Suchasighthavingneveroccurredbefore，wasalmostaswonderfulasitwaswelcome。
“Fanny，“saidhedirectly，leavinghisseatandhispen，andmeetingherwithsomethinginhishand，“Ibegyourpardonforbeinghere。Icametolookforyou，andafterwaitingalittlewhileinhopeofyourcomingin，wasmakinguseofyourinkstandtoexplainmyerrand。
Youwillfindthebeginningofanotetoyourself；
butIcannowspeakmybusiness，whichismerelytobegyouracceptanceofthislittletrifle——achainforWilliam’scross。Yououghttohavehaditaweekago，buttherehasbeenadelayfrommybrother’snotbeingintownbyseveraldayssosoonasIexpected；
andIhaveonlyjustnowreceiveditatNorthampton。
Ihopeyouwilllikethechainitself，Fanny。Iendeavouredtoconsultthesimplicityofyourtaste；but，atanyrate，Iknowyouwillbekindtomyintentions，andconsiderit，asitreallyis，atokenoftheloveofoneofyouroldestfriends。“
Andsosaying，hewashurryingaway，beforeFanny，overpoweredbyathousandfeelingsofpainandpleasure，couldattempttospeak；butquickenedbyonesovereignwish，shethencalledout，“Oh!cousin，stopamoment，praystop!“
Heturnedback。
“Icannotattempttothankyou，“shecontinued，inaveryagitatedmanner；“thanksareoutofthequestion。
IfeelmuchmorethanIcanpossiblyexpress。
Yourgoodnessinthinkingofmeinsuchawayisbeyond——
“
“Ifthatisallyouhavetosay，Fanny“smilingandturningawayagain。
“No，no，itisnot。Iwanttoconsultyou。“
Almostunconsciouslyshehadnowundonetheparcelhehadjustputintoherhand，andseeingbeforeher，inallthenicenessofjewellers’packing，aplaingoldchain，perfectlysimpleandneat，shecouldnothelpburstingforthagain，“Oh，thisisbeautifulindeed!
Thisistheverything，preciselywhatIwishedfor!
ThisistheonlyornamentIhaveeverhadadesiretopossess。
Itwillexactlysuitmycross。Theymustandshallbeworntogether。Itcomes，too，insuchanacceptablemoment。
Oh，cousin，youdonotknowhowacceptableitis。“
“MydearFanny，youfeelthesethingsagreatdealtoomuch。
Iammosthappythatyoulikethechain，andthatitshouldbehereintimeforto-morrow；butyourthanksarefarbeyondtheoccasion。Believeme，Ihavenopleasureintheworldsuperiortothatofcontributingtoyours。