CHAPTER V

Theyoungpeoplewerepleasedwitheachotherfromthefirst.Oneachsidetherewasmuchtoattract,andtheiracquaintancesoonpromisedasearlyanintimacyasgoodmannerswouldwarrant.MissCrawford’sbeautydidhernodisservicewiththeMissBertrams.Theyweretoohandsomethemselvestodislikeanywomanforbeingsotoo,andwerealmostasmuchcharmedastheirbrotherswithherlivelydarkeye,clearbrowncomplexion,andgeneralprettiness.Hadshebeentall,fullformed,andfair,itmighthavebeenmoreofatrial:butasitwas,therecouldbenocomparisonandshewasmostallowablyasweet,prettygirl,whiletheywerethefinestyoungwomeninthecountry. Herbrotherwasnothandsome:no,whentheyfirstsawhimhewasabsolutelyplain,blackandplainbutstillhewasthegentleman,withapleasingaddress.Thesecondmeetingprovedhimnotsoveryplain:hewasplain,tobesure,butthenhehadsomuchcountenance,andhisteethweresogood,andhewassowellmade,thatonesoonforgothewasplainandafterathirdinterview,afterdiningincompanywithhimattheParsonage,hewasnolongerallowedtobecalledsobyanybody.Hewas,infact,themostagreeableyoungmanthesistershadeverknown,andtheywereequallydelightedwithhim.MissBertram’sengagementmadehiminequitythepropertyofJulia,ofwhichJuliawasfullyawareandbeforehehadbeenatMansfieldaweek,shewasquitereadytobefalleninlovewith. Maria’snotionsonthesubjectweremoreconfusedandindistinct.Shedidnotwanttoseeorunderstand.“Therecouldbenoharminherlikinganagreeableman—everybodyknewhersituation—Mr.Crawfordmusttakecareofhimself.”Mr.Crawforddidnotmeantobeinanydanger!theMissBertramswereworthpleasing,andwerereadytobepleasedandhebeganwithnoobjectbutofmakingthemlikehim.Hedidnotwantthemtodieoflovebutwithsenseandtemperwhichoughttohavemadehimjudgeandfeelbetter,heallowedhimselfgreatlatitudeonsuchpoints. “IlikeyourMissBertramsexceedingly,sister,”saidhe,ashereturnedfromattendingthemtotheircarriageafterthesaiddinnervisit“theyareveryelegant,agreeablegirls.” “Sotheyareindeed,andIamdelightedtohearyousayit.ButyoulikeJuliabest.” “Ohyes!IlikeJuliabest.” “Butdoyoureally?forMissBertramisingeneralthoughtthehandsomest.” “SoIshouldsuppose.Shehastheadvantageineveryfeature,andIpreferhercountenancebutIlikeJuliabestMissBertramiscertainlythehandsomest,andIhavefoundherthemostagreeable,butIshallalwayslikeJuliabest,becauseyouorderme.” “Ishallnottalktoyou,Henry,butIknowyouwilllikeherbestatlast.” “DonotItellyouthatIlikeherbestatfirst?” “Andbesides,MissBertramisengaged.Rememberthat,mydearbrother.Herchoiceismade.” “Yes,andIlikeherthebetterforit.Anengagedwomanisalwaysmoreagreeablethanadisengaged.Sheissatisfiedwithherself.Hercaresareover,andshefeelsthatshemayex