CHAPTER XIII

tpause,however,thesubjectstillcontinued,andwasdiscussedwithunabatedeagerness,everyone’sinclinationincreasingbythediscussion,andaknowledgeoftheinclinationoftherestandthoughnothingwassettledbutthatTomBertramwouldpreferacomedy,andhissistersandHenryCrawfordatragedy,andthatnothingintheworldcouldbeeasierthantofindapiecewhichwouldpleasethemall,theresolutiontoactsomethingorotherseemedsodecidedastomakeEdmundquiteuncomfortable.Hewasdeterminedtopreventit,ifpossible,thoughhismother,whoequallyheardtheconversationwhichpassedattable,didnotevincetheleastdisapprobation. Thesameeveningaffordedhimanopportunityoftryinghisstrength.Maria,Julia,HenryCrawford,andMr.Yateswereinthebilliard-room.Tom,returningfromthemintothedrawing-room,whereEdmundwasstandingthoughtfullybythefire,whileLadyBertramwasonthesofaatalittledistance,andFannyclosebesideherarrangingherwork,thusbeganasheentered—“Suchahorriblyvilebilliard-tableasoursisnottobemetwith,Ibelieve,aboveground.Icanstanditnolonger,andIthink,Imaysay,thatnothingshallevertemptmetoitagainbutonegoodthingIhavejustascertained:itistheveryroomforatheatre,preciselytheshapeandlengthforitandthedoorsatthefartherend,communicatingwitheachother,astheymaybemadetodoinfiveminutes,bymerelymovingthebookcaseinmyfather’sroom,istheverythingwecouldhavedesired,ifwehadsatdowntowishforitandmyfather’sroomwillbeanexcellentgreenroom.Itseemstojointhebilliard-roomonpurpose.” “Youarenotserious,Tom,inmeaningtoact?”saidEdmund,inalowvoice,ashisbrotherapproachedthefire. “Notserious!nevermoreso,Iassureyou.Whatistheretosurpriseyouinit?” “Ithinkitwouldbeverywrong.Inagenerallight,privatetheatricalsareopentosomeobjections,butaswearecircumstanced,Imustthinkitwouldbehighlyinjudicious,andmorethaninjudicioustoattemptanythingofthekind.Itwouldshewgreatwantoffeelingonmyfather’saccount,absentasheis,andinsomedegreeofconstantdangeranditwouldbeimprudent,Ithink,withregardtoMaria,whosesituationisaverydelicateone,consideringeverything,extremelydelicate.” “Youtakeupathingsoseriously!asifweweregoingtoactthreetimesaweektillmyfather’sreturn,andinviteallthecountry.Butitisnottobeadisplayofthatsort.Wemeannothingbutalittleamusementamongourselves,justtovarythescene,andexerciseourpowersinsomethingnew.Wewantnoaudience,nopublicity.Wemaybetrusted,Ithink,inchusingsomeplaymostperfectlyunexceptionableandIcanconceivenogreaterharmordangertoanyofusinconversingintheelegantwrittenlanguageofsomerespectableauthorthaninchatteringinwordsofourown.Ihavenofearsandnoscruples.Andastomyfather’sbeingabsent,itissofarfromanobjection,thatIconsideritratherasamotivefortheexpectationofhisreturnmustbeaveryanxiousperiodtomymotherandifwecanbethemeansofamusingthatanxiety,andkeepingupherspiritsforthenextfewweeks,Ishallthinkourtimeverywellspent,andso,Iamsure,willhe.Itisaveryanxiousperiodforher.” Ashesaidthis,eachlookedtowardstheirmother.LadyBertram,sunkbackinonec