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。