Rushworth and Julia tonight!”
and MrsNorris paid... Rushworth and Julia tonight!”
and MrsNorris paid her with as many smiles and courteous
words as she had time for, amid so much occupation as she found for
herself in making up card-tables, giving hints to Sir Thomas, and
trying to move all the chaperons to a better part of the room
Miss Crawford blundered most towards Fanny herself in her intentions
to pleaseShe meant to be giving her little heart a happy
flutter, and filling her with sensations of delightful self-consequence;
and, misinterpreting Fanny’s blushes, still thought she must be do241
Jane Austen
ing so when she went to her after the two first dances, and said,
with a significant look, “Perhaps you can tell me why my brother
goes to town to-morrow? He says he has business there, but will not
tell me whatThe first time he ever denied me his confidence! But
this is what we all come toAll are supplanted sooner or laterNow,
I must apply to you for informationPray, what is Henry going
for?”
Fanny protested her ignorance as steadily as her embarrassment
allowed
“Well, then,” replied Miss Crawford, laughing, “I must suppose it
to be purely for the pleasure of conveying your brother, and of talking
of you by the way
Fanny was confused, but it was the confusion of discontent; while
Miss Crawford
dior saddle bags wondered she did not smile, and thought her overanxious,
or thought her odd, or thought her anything rather than
insensible of pleasure in Henry’s attentionsFanny had a good deal
of enjoyment in the course of the evening; but Henry’s attentions
had very little to do with itShe would much rather not have been
asked by him again so very soon, and she wished she had not been
obliged to suspect that his previous inquiries of MrsNorris, about
the supper hour, were all for the sake of securing her at that part of
the eveningBut it was not to be avoided: he made her feel that she
was the object of all; though she could not say that it was unpleasantly
done, that there was indelicacy or ostentation in his manner;
and sometimes, when he talked of William, he was really not
unagreeable, and shewed even a warmth of heart which did him
creditBut still his attentions made no part of her satisfactionShe
was happy whenever she looked at William, and saw how perfectly
he was enjoying himself, in every five minutes that she could walk
about with him and hear his account of his partners; she was happy
in knowing herself admired; and she was happy in having the two
dances with Edmund still to look forward to, during the greatest
part of the evening, her hand being so eagerly
chanel bags pink sought after that her
indefinite engagement with him was in continual perspectiveShe
was happy even when they did take place; but not from any flow of
spirits on his side, or any such expressions of tender gallantry as had
blessed the morningHis mind was fagged, and her happiness sprung
242
Mansfield Park
from being the friend with whom it could find repose“I am worn
out with civility,” said he“I have been talking incessantly all night,
and with nothing to sayBut with you, Fanny, there may be peace
You will not want to be talked toLet us have the luxury of silence
Fanny would hardly even speak her agreementA weariness, arising
probably, in great measure, from the same feelings which he had
acknowledged in the morning, was peculiarly to be respected, and
they went down their two dances together with such sober tranquillity
as might satisfy any looker-on that Sir Thomas had been bringing
up no wife for his younger son
The evening had afforded Edmund little pleasureMiss Crawford
had been in gay spirits when they first danced together, but it was
not her gaiety that could do him good: it rather sank than raised his
comfort; and afterwards, for he found himself still impelled to seek
her again, she had absolutely pained him by her manner of speaking
of the
chanel watch j12 white profession to which he was now on the point of belonging
They had talked, and they had been silent; he had reasoned,
she had ridiculed; and they had parted at last with mutual vexation
Fanny, not able to refrain entirely from observing them, had seen
enough to be tolerably satisfiedIt was barbarous to be happy when
Edmund was sufferingYet some happiness must and would arise
from the very conviction that he did suffer
When her two dances with him were over, her inclination and
strength for more were pretty well at an end; and Sir Thomas, having
seen her walk rather than dance down the shortening set, breathless,
and with her hand at her side, gave his orders for her sitting
down entirelyCrawford sat down likewise
“Poor Fanny!” cried William, coming for a moment to visit her,
and working away his partner’s fan as if for life, “how soon she is
knocked up! Why, the sport is but just begunI hope we shall keep
it up these two hoursHow can you be tired so soon?”
“So soon! my good friend,” said Sir Thomas, producing his watch
with all necessary caution; “it is three o’clock, and your sister is not
used to these sort of hours
“Well, then, Fanny, you shall not get up to-morrow before I go
Sleep as long as you can, and never mind me
243
Jane Austen
“What! Did she
prada black bags think of being up before you set off?”
“Oh! yes, sir,” cried Fanny, rising eagerly from her seat to be nearer
her uncle; “I must get up and breakfast with himIt will be the last
time, you know; the last morning
“You had better notHe is to have breakfasted and be gone by
half-past nineCrawford, I think you call for him at half-past
nine?”
Fanny was too urgent, however, and had too many tears in her
eyes for denial; and it ended in a gracious “Well, well!” which was
permission
“Yes, half-past nine,” said Crawford to William as the latter was
leaving them, “and I shall be punctual, for there will be no kind
sister to get up for me And in a lower tone to Fanny, “I shall have
only a desolate house to hurry fromYour brother will find my ideas
of time and his own very different to-morrow
After a short consideration, Sir Thomas asked Crawford to join
the early breakfast party in that house instead of eating alone: he
should himself be of it; and the readiness with which his invitation
was accepted convinced him that the suspicions whence, he must
confess to himself, this very ball had in great measure sprung, were
well foundedCrawford was in love with FannyHe had a pleasing
anticipation of what would beHis niece, meanwhile, did not
thank him for what he had just
prada clutch d