CHAPTER XII

lousyofhisneighbours,hisdoubtsoftheirqualifications,andhiszealafterpoachers,subjectswhichwillnotfindtheirwaytofemalefeelingswithoutsometalentononesideorsomeattachmentontheother,hadmissedMr.CrawfordgrievouslyandJulia,unengagedandunemployed,feltalltherightofmissinghimmuchmore.Eachsisterbelievedherselfthefavourite.JuliamightbejustifiedinsodoingbythehintsofMrs.Grant,inclinedtocreditwhatshewished,andMariabythehintsofMr.Crawfordhimself.Everythingreturnedintothesamechannelasbeforehisabsencehismannersbeingtoeachsoanimatedandagreeableastolosenogroundwitheither,andjuststoppingshortoftheconsistence,thesteadiness,thesolicitude,andthewarmthwhichmightexcitegeneralnotice. FannywastheonlyoneofthepartywhofoundanythingtodislikebutsincethedayatSotherton,shecouldneverseeMr.Crawfordwitheithersisterwithoutobservation,andseldomwithoutwonderorcensureandhadherconfidenceinherownjudgmentbeenequaltoherexerciseofitineveryotherrespect,hadshebeensurethatshewasseeingclearly,andjudgingcandidly,shewouldprobablyhavemadesomeimportantcommunicationstoherusualconfidant.Asitwas,however,sheonlyhazardedahint,andthehintwaslost.“Iamrathersurprised,”saidshe,“thatMr.Crawfordshouldcomebackagainsosoon,afterbeingheresolongbefore,fullsevenweeksforIhadunderstoodhewassoveryfondofchangeandmovingabout,thatIthoughtsomethingwouldcertainlyoccur,whenhewasoncegone,totakehimelsewhere.HeisusedtomuchgayerplacesthanMansfield.” “Itistohiscredit,”wasEdmund’sanswer“andIdaresayitgiveshissisterpleasure.Shedoesnotlikehisunsettledhabits.” “Whatafavouriteheiswithmycousins!” “Yes,hismannerstowomenaresuchasmustplease.Mrs.Grant,Ibelieve,suspectshimofapreferenceforJuliaIhaveneverseenmuchsymptomofit,butIwishitmaybeso.Hehasnofaultsbutwhataseriousattachmentwouldremove.” “IfMissBertramwerenotengaged,”saidFannycautiously,“IcouldsometimesalmostthinkthatheadmiredhermorethanJulia.” “Whichis,perhaps,moreinfavourofhislikingJuliabest,thanyou,Fanny,maybeawareforIbelieveitoftenhappensthataman,beforehehasquitemadeuphisownmind,willdistinguishthesisterorintimatefriend