CHAPTER V

misedwell,andtherewasnothingtocallhimelsewhere.ItdelightedMrs.Granttokeepthembothwithher,andDr.Grantwasexceedinglywellcontentedtohaveitso:atalkingprettyyoungwomanlikeMissCrawfordisalwayspleasantsocietytoanindolent,stay-at-homemanandMr.Crawford’sbeinghisguestwasanexcusefordrinkingclareteveryday. TheMissBertrams’admirationofMr.CrawfordwasmorerapturousthananythingwhichMissCrawford’shabitsmadeherlikelytofeel.Sheacknowledged,however,thattheMr.Bertramswereveryfineyoungmen,thattwosuchyoungmenwerenotoftenseentogethereveninLondon,andthattheirmanners,particularlythoseoftheeldest,wereverygood.HehadbeenmuchinLondon,andhadmorelivelinessandgallantrythanEdmund,andmust,therefore,bepreferredand,indeed,hisbeingtheeldestwasanotherstrongclaim.Shehadfeltanearlypresentimentthatsheshouldliketheeldestbest.Sheknewitwasherway. TomBertrammusthavebeenthoughtpleasant,indeed,atanyratehewasthesortofyoungmantobegenerallyliked,hisagreeablenesswasofthekindtobeoftenerfoundagreeablethansomeendowmentsofahigherstamp,forhehadeasymanners,excellentspirits,alargeacquaintance,andagreatdealtosayandthereversionofMansfieldPark,andabaronetcy,didnoharmtoallthis.MissCrawfordsoonfeltthatheandhissituationmightdo.Shelookedaboutherwithdueconsideration,andfoundalmosteverythinginhisfavour:apark,arealpark,fivemilesround,aspaciousmodern-builthouse,sowellplacedandwellscreenedastodeservetobeinanycollectionofengravingsofgentlemen’sseatsinthekingdom,andwantingonlytobecompletelynewfurnished—pleasantsisters,aquietmother,andanagreeablemanhimself—withtheadvantageofbeingtiedupfrommuchgamingatpresentbyapromisetohisfather,andofbeingSirThomashereafter.ItmightdoverywellshebelievedsheshouldaccepthimandshebeganaccordinglytointerestherselfalittleaboutthehorsewhichhehadtorunattheB——races. Theseracesweretocallhimawaynotlongaftertheiracquaintancebeganandasitappearedthatthefamilydidnot,fromhisusualgoingson,expecthimbackagainformanyweeks,itwouldbringhispassiontoanearlyproof.Muchwassaidonhissidetoinducehertoattendtheraces,andschemesweremadeforalargepartytothem,withalltheeagernessofinclination,butitwouldonlydotobetalkedof. AndFanny,whatwasshedoingandthinkingallthiswhile?andwhatwasheropinionofthenewcomers?FewyoungladiesofeighteencouldbelesscalledontospeaktheiropinionthanFanny.Inaquietway,verylittleattendedto,shepaidhertributeofadmirationtoMissCrawford’sbeautybutasshestillcontinuedtothinkMr.Crawfordveryplain,inspiteofhertwocousinshavingrepeatedlyprovedthecontrary,shenevermentionedhim.Thenotice,whichsheexcitedherself,wastothiseffect.“Ibeginnowtounderstandyoual