On reaching home Fanny went immediately upstairs to deposit this
unexpected acquisition, this doubtful good of a necklace, in some
favourite box in the East room, which held all her smaller treasures;
but on opening the door, what was her surprise to find her cousin
Edmund there writing at the table! Such a sight having never occurred
before, was almost as wonderful as it was welcome.

"Fanny," said he directly, leaving his seat and his pen, and meeting
her with something in his hand, "I beg your pardon for being here. I
came to look for you, and after waiting a little while in hope of your
coming in, was making use of your inkstand to explain my errand. You
will find the beginning of a note to yourself; but I can now speak my
business, which is merely to beg your acceptance of this little
trifle--a chain for William's cross. You ought to have had it a week
ago, but there has been a delay from my brother's not being in town by
several days so soon as I expected; and I have only just now received
it at Northampton. I hope you will like the chain itself, Fanny. I
endeavoured to consult the simplicity of your taste; but, at any rate,
I know you will be kind to my intentions, and consider it, as it really
is, a token of the love of one of your oldest friends."