ButeventothispropositionMrsCrawleycouldgivenoassent，thoughsheexpressednodirectdissent。Asregardedherownfeelings，shewouldmuchpreferredtohavebeenlefttolivethroughhermiseryalone；butshecouldnotbutappreciatethekindnesswhichendeavouredtothrowoverandhersintheirtroubletheaegisoffirst—ratecountyrespectability。ShewassavedfromthenecessityofgivingadirectanswertothissuggestionbythereturnofMrsRobartsandGraceherself。Thedoorwasopenedslowly，andtheycreptintotheroomasthoughtheywereawarethattheirpresencewouldbehardlywelcomed。
’Isthecarriagethere，Fanny？’saidLadyLufton。’Itisalmosttimeforustothinkofreturninghome。’
MrsRobartssaidthatthecarriagewasstandingwithintwentyyardsofthedoor。
’ThenIthinkwewillmakeastart，’saidLadyLufton。’HaveyousucceededinpersuadingMissCrawleytocomeovertoFramleyinApril？’
MrsRobartsmadenoanswertothis，butlookedatGrace；andGracelookeddownupontheground。