She certainly will not act And not another word was said; but Fanny felt
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herself again in danger, and her indifference to the danger was beginning
to fail her already
There were not fewer smiles at the Parsonage than at the Park on
this change in Edmund; Miss Crawford looked very lovely in hers,
and entered with such an instantaneous renewal of cheerfulness into
the whole affair as could have but one effect on him?He was certainly
right in respecting such feelings; he was glad he had determined
on it And the morning wore away in satisfactions very sweet,
if not very soundOne advantage resulted from it to Fanny: at the
earnest request of Miss Crawford, MrsGrant had, with her usual
good-humour, agreed to undertake the part for which Fanny had
been wanted; and this was all that occurred to gladden her heart
during the day; and even this, when imparted by Edmund, brought
a pang with it, for it was Miss Crawford to whom she was obliged?
it was Miss Crawford whose kind exertions were to excite her gratitude,
and whose merit in making them was spoken of with a glow
of admirationShe was safe; but peace and safety were unconnected
hereHer mind had been never farther from peaceShe could not
feel that she had done wrong herself, but she was disquieted in every
other wayHer heart and her judgment were equally against
Edmund?s decision: she could not acquit his unsteadiness, and his
happiness under it made her wretchedShe was full of jealousy and
agitationMiss Crawford came with looks of gaiety which seemed
an insult, with friendly expressions towards herself which she could
hardly answer calmlyEverybody around her was gay and busy, prosperous
and important; each had their object of interest, their part,
their dress, their favourite scene, their friends and confederates: all
were finding employment in consultations and comparisons, or diversion
in the playful conceits they suggestedShe alone was sad
and insignificant: she had no share in anything; she might go or
stay; she might be in the midst of their noise, or retreat from it to
the solitude of the East room, without being seen or missedShe
could almost think anything would have been preferable to thisGrant was of consequence: her
rolex cosmograph daytona good-nature had honourable
mention; her taste and her time were considered; her presence was
wanted; she was sought for, and attended, and praised; and Fanny
was at first in some danger of envying her the character she had
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acceptedBut reflection brought better feelings, and shewed her
that MrsGrant was entitled to respect, which could never have
belonged to her; and that, had she received even the greatest, she
could never have been easy in joining a scheme which, considering
only her uncle, she must condemn altogether
Fanny?s heart was not absolutely the only saddened one amongst
them, as she soon began to acknowledge to herselfJulia was a
sufferer too, though not quite so blamelessly
Henry Crawford had trifled with her feelings; but she had very long
allowed and even sought his attentions, with a jealousy of her sister so
reasonable as ought to have been their cure; and now that the conviction
of his preference for Maria had been forced on her, she submitted
to it without any alarm for Maria?s situation, or any endeavour at
rational tranquillity for herselfShe either sat in gloomy silence, wrapt
in such gravity as nothing could subdue, no curiosity touch, no wit
amuse; or allowing the attentions of MrYates, was talking with forced
gaiety to him alone, and ridiculing the acting of the others
For a day or two after the affront was given, Henry Crawford had
endeavoured to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and compliment,
but he had not cared enough about it to persevere against
a few repulses; and becoming soon too busy with his play to have
time for more than one flirtation, he grew indifferent to the quarrel,
or rather thought it a lucky occurrence, as quietly putting an end to
what might ere long have raised expectations in more than MrsShe was not pleased to see Julia excluded from the play, and
sitting by disregarded; but as it was not a matter which really involved
her happiness, as Henry must be the best judge of his own,
and as he did assure her, with a most persuasive smile, that neither
he nor Julia had ever had a serious thought of each other, she could
only renew her former caution as to the elder sister, entreat him not
to risk his tranquillity by
cartier watch too much admiration there, and then gladly
take her share in anything that brought cheerfulness to the young
people in general, and that did so particularly promote the pleasure
of the two so dear to her
?I rather wonder Julia is not in love with Henry,? was her observation
to Mary
?I dare say she is,? replied Mary coldly?I imagine both sisters are
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?Both! no, no, that must not beDo not give him a hint of itRushworth!?
?You had better tell Miss Bertram to think of MrIt
may do her some goodRushworth?s property
and independence, and wish them in other hands; but I never think
of himA man might represent the county with such an estate; a
man might escape a profession and represent the county
?I dare say he will be in parliament soonWhen Sir Thomas comes,
I dare say he will be in for some borough, but there has been nobody
to put him in the way of doing anything yet
?Sir Thomas is to achieve many mighty things when he comes
home,? said Mary, after a pause?Do you remember Hawkins
Browne?s ?Address to Tobacco,? in imitation of Pope??
Blest leaf! whose aromatic gales dispense
To Templars modesty, to Parsons sense
I will parody them?
Blest Knight! whose dictatorial looks dispense
To Children affluence, to Rushworth sense
Will not that do, MrsGrant? Everything seems to depend upon Sir
Thomas?s return
?You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you
see him in his family, I assure youI do not think we do so well
without himHe has a fine dignified manner, which suits the head
of such a house, and keeps everybody in their placeLady Bertram
seems more of a cipher now than when he is at home; and nobody
else can keep MrsBut, Mary, do not fancy that
Maria Bertram cares for HenryI am sure Julia does not, or she
would not have flirted as she did last night with MrYates; and
though he and Maria are very good friends, I think she likes
Sotherton too well to be inconstant
?I would not give much for MrRushworth?s chance if Henry
stept in before the articles were signed
?If you have such a suspicion, something must be done; and as
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soon as the play is all over, we will talk to him seriously and make
him know his own mind; and if he means nothing, we will
rolex watches for women send
him off, though he is Henry, for a time
Julia did suffer, however, though MrsGrant discerned it not, and
though it escaped the notice of many of her own family likewise
She had loved, she did love still, and she had all the suffering which
a warm temper and a high spirit were likely to endure under the
disappointment of a dear, though irrational hope, with a strong sense
of ill-usageHer heart was sore and angry, and she was capable only
of angry consolationsThe sister with whom she was used to be on
easy terms was now become her greatest enemy: they were alienated
from each other; and Julia was not superior to the hope of some
distressing end to the attentions which were still carrying on there,
some punishment to Maria for conduct so shameful towards herself
as well as towards MrWith no material fault of temper,
or difference of opinion, to prevent their being very good friends
while their interests were the same, the sisters, under such a trial as
this, had not affection or principle enough to make them merciful
or just, to give them honour or compassionMaria felt her triumph,
and pursued her purpose, careless of Julia; and Julia could never see
Maria distinguished by Henry Crawford without trusting that it
would create jealousy, and bring a public disturbance at last
Fanny saw and pitied much of this in Julia; but there was no outward
fellowship between themJulia made no communication, and
Fanny took no libertiesThey were two solitary sufferers, or connected
only by Fanny?s consciousness
The inattention of the two brothers and the aunt to Julia?s discomposure,
and their blindness to its true cause, must be imputed
to the fullness of their own mindsThey were totally preoccupied
Tom was engrossed by the concerns of his theatre, and saw nothing
that did not immediately relate to itEdmund, between his theatrical
and his real part, between Miss Crawford?s claims and his own
conduct, between love and consistency, was equally unobservant;
and MrsNorris was too busy in contriving and directing the general
little matters of the company, superintending their various dresses
with economical expedient, for which nobody thanked her, and saving,
with delighted integrity, half a crown here and
cheap chanel 2.55 bag there to the
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absent Sir Thomas, to have leisure for watching the behaviour, or
guarding the happiness of his daughters
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CHAPTER XVIII
EVERYTHING WAS NOW in a regular train: theatre, actors, actresses,
and dresses, were all getting forward; but though no other great
impediments arose, Fanny found, before many days were past, that
it was not all uninterrupted enjoyment to the party themselves, and
that she had not to witness the continuance of such unanimity and
delight as had been almost too much for her at firstEverybody
began to have their vexationEntirely against
his judgment, a scene-painter arrived from town, and was at work,
much to the increase of the expenses, and, what was worse, of the
eclat of their proceedings; and his brother, instead of being really
guided by him as to the privacy of the representation, was giving an
invitation to every family who came in his wayTom himself began
to fret over the scene-painter?s slow progress, and to feel the miseries
of waitingHe had learned his part?all his parts, for he took every
trifling one that could be united with the Butler, and began to be
impatient to be acting; and every day thus unemployed was tending
to increase his sense of the insignificance of all his parts together,
and make him more ready to regret that some other play had not
been chosen
Fanny, being always a very courteous listener, and often the only
listener at hand, came in for the complaints and the distresses of
most of themYates was in general thought to
rant dreadfully; that MrYates was disappointed in Henry Crawford;
that Tom Bertram spoke so quick he would be unintelligible; that
MrsGrant spoiled everything by laughing; that Edmund was
behindhand with his part, and that it was misery to have anything
to do with MrRushworth, who was wanting a prompter through
every speechShe knew, also, that poor MrRushworth could seldom
get anybody to rehearse with him: his complaint came before
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her as well as the rest; and so decided to her eye was her cousin
Maria?s avoidance of him, and so needlessly often the rehearsal of
the first scene between her and MrCrawford, that she had soon all
the terror of other complaints from
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