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Chapter 21
A SLEEPLESS NIGHT spent examining her own conduct and coming to terms with her own feelings was so unusual an event for Charlotte that she expected the next day would exact its toll in reactions of lethargy and discontent -- even perhaps in unwelcome second thoughts which were only bound to confuse her, And great was her surprise, when the morning sun at last crept into her room, to discover she was already wide-awake -- and awake, moreover, with a very curious sense of beginning to live so intensely that she was a little frightened. The main window of her bedroom overlooked the driveway; and, a sudden clatter of horses` hooves below drawing her to it while she was dressing, she looked down at an oblique angle through the gauze curtain to Sidney`s neat carriage pausing for a moment outside the front porch. By craning her neck in an absurd and undignified way, she could even see part of Sidney`s profile. He was talking to Morgan, leaning down to hand him something, laughing, turning his carriage and driving off again through the gates of Trafalgar House. Standing tiptoe on her bare feet, she watched the top of his head recede into the distance till it disappeared from view over the downs. And although she smiled at herself in her folly of standing half-dressed behind a window curtain in the early morning breeze from the sea, not all her scolding at being such a simpleton could have made her turn away till she was certain no more distant hills might bring the carriage again into view. She felt ridiculously light of heart as she finished dtessing; and had to stop several times on the staircase to compose her looks into their normal sober pattern before she felt equal to showing herself to her hosts at the breakfast table. On entering the room, she wondered if she had in fact succeeded. A certain constraint in the greetings of both Mr. and Mrs. Parker troubled her; and as she took her place at the table, she was uncomfortably aware that they seemed to be staring at her rather curiously. But this was almost immediately resolved by Mr. Parker`s handing her a parcel and saying in his eager, inquisitive way, "Well now, Miss Heywood, this is for you and we neither of us can imagine what is in it! Sidney called early this morning, took us in his way on setting out for town -- and he left this packet for you. I was never more surprised in my life! Not even downstairs when I heard the commotion -- shouting in the driveway and Morgan rushing to the door in his shirt sleeves. "I forgot to leave in this parcel,` calls Sidney from his carriage. "Yes, sir,` says Morgan, "I will give it to Mr. Parker as soon as he comes down." "No, no, not for my brother," cries Sidney. "For Miss Heywood. I am leaving the parcel for Miss Heywood. Only the small booklet is for my brother." By that time, you know, I had reached the front steps and tried to ask him what he meant. But Sidney was turning his horses round and could not hear me. He would only laugh. "Well, Tom, I am off. See that Miss Heywood gets her parcel." So, of course, we have been wondering ever since what it could be that Sidney has left for you." He held out the small parcel, carefully wrapped and tied, and accompanied by a letter thrust under the string. There could be no doubt of his burning curiosity with regard to the contents. Even Mrs. Parker, in quieter fashion, appeared wary and worried over this impulsive gesture of her brother-in-law in sending a letter and a gift to their young guest. Very conscious of their intent observation, Charlotte accepted the parcel, laid it aside, extracted the letter and opened it. Knowing she would have to read it aloud to satisfy Mr. Parker, she had some misgivings herself; and from her still imperfect knowledge of Sidney`s character, was dreading what it might prove to contain. She glanced over it. Dear Miss Heywood, Forgive this hurried note. I could not resist buying the accompanying gift in Brinshore yesterday. I believe I intended it at the time as a present for my brother, but on reflection, have decided he might not appreciate it, and will have to content himself with the "Guide to Watering Places" which t had already purchasedfor him. Moreover, as I was indeedlucky enough to findan exact replica of the object my sisters bought, it now occurs to me that my own family are well provided with mementoes of Brinshore. Your own admiration was so clearly expressed that I feel I can do no better than bestow my rash purchase on you. I cannot, in any case, take it to London, as it is too fragile to Pack. And you, I am sure, will agree such an "extremely pretty" and "necessary box deserves better than to be broken. Yours etc. Sidney Parker. Su pressing a smile, Charlotte handed the letter to Mrs. Parker, and cautiously unwrapping the layers of paper, revealed the small box, labelled "Brinshore." "What`s this? What"s this?" cried Mr. Parker. "A box all covered with shells? And why does it have Brinshore on it in those little coloured pebbles? What does one do with io And what can Sidney mean sending such a thing to Miss Heywood?" "Sidney says he meant to give it to you," said Mrs. Parker, looking up from the letter. "It is clear enough what his intentions were. So exactly his sense of humour! He thinks it would have been very amusing to give you a box with Brinshore written on it." She handed the letter to her husband. "It is one of his jokes." "Then why did he give it to Miss Heywood?" demanded Mr. Parker in bewilderment. "Would you like io" offered Charlotte a little fearfully. Quite suddenly she found she had become very possessive over the ugly little box. "Me? Like a useless box labelled Brinshore? No, no. Sidney is quite in the right there. "On reflection, I have decided he might not appreciate it." Very proper. But let me see it. So this is the type of thing Brinshore goes in for! Do they think that will attract visitors? Yes, yes, I see it is one of Sidney`s jokes, as Mary says. But good Lord! I would not have such a thing in the house. Ah! so Susan and Diana bought one too -- precisely what they would do, of course. My sisters are very worthy women, Miss Heywood, but without a scrap of taste to share between them. You should see some of the knick-knacks they keep about their house -- tables crammed with ornamental pill-boxes and extravagant gewgaws. lt does not surprise me in the least to find them adding to the number. Well, it is funny, I suppose. "Too fragile to pack.` And did you really call it an extremely pretty box"?" "I believe l did say so," admitted Charlotte. "Your sisters had already bought one and the Miss Beauforts were admiring it -- and Sir Edward -- in short, out of politeness, I remember saying something of the sort because l could not very well avoid it." "Ha! I see how it all was. Many a time have I been forced to admire some hideous thing Diana has bought and Sidney has teased me about it afterwards. He can never resist these little attempts to be humorous at other people`s expense." The Parkers had decided to laugh at Sidney`s unexpected letter to Miss Heywood; and the box was now firmly established as one of Sidney`s jokes, to be looked at and smiled at over their breakfast, but not given another thought. And Charlotte, who also smiled at it, was not really surprised to discover it meant far more than a joke to her. She was grateful the box had been presented in such a way that she could keep it without arousing anybody`s suspicions. But she was forced to admit the Parkers` assessment of the incident came closer to Sidney`s own intentions. He had bought the box on a sudden impulse without thinking of her at all; he had written the note in a hurry just as he was setting off for London; and provided the fun was enjoyed somewhere, he did not mind who in particular claimed ownership of the box. "He has played another such joke on me," said Mr. Parker taking a small booklet from his pocket. "This Guide to Watering Places he has left for me -- all heavily underscored in what Sidney considers the appropriate places. WelI, of course, I knew such an annual handbook existed but have never bothered trying to get Sanditon included in it. And here, you see, he has turned down the corner to bring my attention to it -- Brinshore, coming straight after Brighton. Two columns of it!" "But perhaps it would be no bad idea to arrange for a mention of Sanditon in such a book," Mrs. Parker suggested. "Surely many people we cannot know of must consult a library or buy this book before deciding on a seaside holiday?" "Nonsense, my dear Mary. The sort of people who consult such rubbish are not the sort we want encouraged at Sanditon. What facts, what truth can be expected from a publication like this? It shows no discrimination at all. Though they may be trying to puff up Brinshore, what have they actually found to praise? Listen to this," reading in a sarcastic tone: " "The possibility of pleasant living without extortionate expense may, in this comparatively retired and humble spot, be secured in a manner more compatible with the rigid rules of economy than at places of more public and splendid resort." "But I see nothing to censure in that," said Mrs. Parker mildly. "Brinshore knows it cannot attract the fashionable and is making a bid to secure the respectable invalid." "Oh, undoubtedly," agreed Mr. Parker, still scanning his booklet. "And in almost illiterate language," reading again scornfully: " Another advantage particularly advantageous ( Who, outside of Brinshore, would descend to so clumsy a phrase as thao) is the early hour at which public amusements commence and terminate -- a matter of more importance than is generally imagined in preserving actual health and in promoting its restoration." Ah! Sidney has added a marginal comment to that," turning the page at a right angle and trying to make out the scrawl. " "Sanditon has, of course, an advantage even more advantageous to invalids in the complete absence of any public amusements at all." Impudent young dog!" He threw the booklet down on the table in disgust. Mrs. Parker picked it up and began searching the two columns for more factuaI information than her husband had read out. She soon found one item of interest. "lt says here that Brinshore has just developed the amenity of a new Marine Walk for its visitors. Now that is the sort of thing which might really attract visitors. Did you walk along it yesterday, Miss Heywood?" "No, I -- that is -- I was not aware of it," said Charlotte in some confusion, rather ashamed to admit she had noticed so little of anything in Brinshore, and hoping she was not now to be called upon to confirm every statement set down to its credit in the booklet. "There, you see!" crowed Mr. Parker triumphantly. "Brinshore boasts of one walk but nobody notices it. Sanditon abounds in walks -- " "Then you should let people know about them," Mrs. Parker advised him calmly. "Look, here is a list of Brinshore`s chief attractions for anyone who likes to read: Good prospects for restored health and spirits; a resort physician and experienced apothecary always at hand; bathing highly favourable in six well-equipped bathing machines; pleasure boats kept for hire; sedan chairs, bath chairs, wheel chairs, horses, gigs and donkeys to be had upon reasonable terms; imporrant aquatic and inland excursions; possibilities for geologists, fossilists, naturalists and collectors of seaweed and sea shells; Assembly Rooms -- ball, billiard and card rooms -- located in one compact group; regular fortnightly Assemblies held throughout the season. Sidney has underlined that amenity, naturally." "Let me see, let me see," cried Mr. Parker. "As if Sanditon could not do better in listing attractions. l could fill at least four columns without having to huff and puff the way Brinshore does. I would start with one simple statement: "There is no reason why Sanditon should not, in a little time, rank among the most attractive of watering places.` And then, you know, go on to list our own special advantages: Highly favoured situation, being defended by our own range of hills from every wind but the south, salubrity and mildness of our atmosphere, purity of water, rich fertility of the soil, diversity and beauty of our scenery. This would make Brinshore`s list seem feeble indeed! And where are their important aquatic and inland excursions? No mention, of course, of what they are in detail! Have they anything like Fordcliff Abbey in the vicinity? Have they a Peak Hill or a chesil over their stream? Have they constructed tea rooms on their beach? They would never dare to construct tea rooms without a good dish of tea to be served in them. How was the tea at your inn yesterday, Miss Heywood? Brackish taste? Insupportable, no doubt ? " I do not think I noticed anything amiss," confessed Charlotte. "The tea seemed, that is, l think -- " "probably they import inland water for tea at the inn," Mr. Parker agreed comfortably. "You would certainly have noticed it otherwise. No sweet water to be had anywhere near Brinshore. However, I really must speak to Lady Denham about developing a Marine Walk. Though of course we shall call ours an Esplanade!" And fired with sudden enthusiasm, Mr. Parker seized hold of the Guide to Watering Places and retired for the morning into his study to scan it for further ideas, and to compose a suitable entry on Sanditon for submission to the responsible editors. Charlotte, finishing her breakfast, reflected on the peculiar satisfaction to be derived from witnessing a really clever director outwitting someone rather less gifted, and the delight with which Sidney would have greeted his success in manipulating his brother -- even from a distance and without any persuasive arguments -- into doing precisely the opposite of what he intended. But when she picked up her own box and carefully carried it off to her room -- not forgetting the accompanying letter -- it never occurred to her that she, too, might be doing something which Sidney intended. A young lady`s exact estimate of her cwn charms would be a difficult matter to determine but Charlotte certainly never estimated hers as meriting the full treatment of one of Sidney`s intricate little plots. If she could have brought herself to believe he had purchased the box especially for her, and devoted a great deal of thought to composing a seemingly hasty letter which made it possible for her to accept it, she would have valued the gift even more.
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