Heraweofheruncle，andherdreadoftakingalibertywithhim，madeitinstantlyplaintoherwhatshehadtodo。Shemustabsolutelydeclinetheproposal。
Ifhewanted，hewouldsendforher；andeventoofferanearlyreturnwasapresumptionwhichhardlyanythingwouldhaveseemedtojustify。ShethankedMissCrawford，butgaveadecidednegative。“Heruncle，sheunderstood，meanttofetchher；andashercousin’sillnesshadcontinuedsomanyweekswithoutherbeingthoughtatallnecessary，shemustsupposeherreturnwouldbeunwelcomeatpresent，andthatsheshouldbefeltanencumbrance。“
Herrepresentationofhercousin’sstateatthistimewasexactlyaccordingtoherownbeliefofit，andsuchasshesupposedwouldconveytothesanguinemindofhercorrespondentthehopeofeverythingshewaswishingfor。
Edmundwouldbeforgivenforbeingaclergyman，itseemed，undercertainconditionsofwealth；andthis，shesuspected，wasalltheconquestofprejudicewhichhewassoreadytocongratulatehimselfupon。Shehadonlylearnttothinknothingofconsequencebutmoney。
AsFannycouldnotdoubtthatheranswerwasconveyingarealdisappointment，shewasratherinexpectation，fromherknowledgeofMissCrawford’stemper，ofbeingurgedagain；andthoughnosecondletterarrivedforthespaceofaweek，shehadstillthesamefeelingwhenitdidcome。