Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny's hands.

As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate.

These were the contents-- "My Dear Fanny,--Excuse me that I have not written before.

Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.