CHAPTER XIV

answeredforbyMariaaswillingtodoanythingwhenJulia,meaning,likehersister,tobeAgatha,begantobescrupulousonMissCrawford’saccount. “Thisisnotbehavingwellbytheabsent,”saidshe.“Herearenotwomenenough.AmeliaandAgathamaydoforMariaandme,buthereisnothingforyoursister,Mr.Crawford.” Mr.Crawforddesiredthatmightnotbethoughtof:hewasverysurehissisterhadnowishofactingbutasshemightbeuseful,andthatshewouldnotallowherselftobeconsideredinthepresentcase.ButthiswasimmediatelyopposedbyTomBertram,whoassertedthepartofAmeliatobeineveryrespectthepropertyofMissCrawford,ifshewouldacceptit.“Itfallsasnaturally,asnecessarilytoher,”saidhe,“asAgathadoestooneorotherofmysisters.Itcanbenosacrificeontheirside,foritishighlycomic.” Ashortsilencefollowed.EachsisterlookedanxiousforeachfeltthebestclaimtoAgatha,andwashopingtohaveitpressedonherbytherest.HenryCrawford,whomeanwhilehadtakenuptheplay,andwithseemingcarelessnesswasturningoverthefirstact,soonsettledthebusiness. “ImustentreatMissJuliaBertram,”saidhe,“nottoengageinthepartofAgatha,oritwillbetheruinofallmysolemnity.Youmustnot,indeedyoumustnot”(turningtoher).“Icouldnotstandyourcountenancedressedupinwoeandpaleness.Themanylaughswehavehadtogetherwouldinfalliblycomeacrossme,andFrederickandhisknapsackwouldbeobligedtorunaway.” Pleasantly,courteously,itwasspokenbutthemannerwaslostinthemattertoJulia’sfeelings.ShesawaglanceatMariawhichconfirmedtheinjurytoherself:itwasascheme,atrickshewasslighted,MariawaspreferredthesmileoftriumphwhichMariawastryingtosuppressshewedhowwellitwasunderstoodandbeforeJuliacouldcommandherselfenoughtospeak,herbrothergavehisweightagainsthertoo,bysaying,“Ohyes!MariamustbeAgatha.MariawillbethebestAgatha.ThoughJuliafanciesshepreferstragedy,Iwouldnottrustherinit.Thereisnothingoftragedyabouther.Shehasnotthelookofit.Herfeaturesarenottragicfeatures,andshewalkstooquick,andspeakstooquick,andwouldnotkeephercountenance.Shehadbetterdotheoldcountrywoman:theCottager’swifeyouhad,indeed,Julia.Cottager’swifeisaveryprettypart,Iassureyou.Theoldladyrelievesthehigh-flownbenevolenceofherhusbandwithagooddealofspirit.YoushallbeCottager’swife.” “Cottager’swife!”criedMr.Yates.“Whatareyoutalkingof?Themosttrivial,paltry,insignificantpartthemerestcommonplacenotatolerablespeechinthewhole.Yoursisterdothat!Itisaninsulttoproposeit.AtEcclesfordthegovernesswastohavedoneit.Weallagreedthatitcouldnotbeofferedtoanybodyelse.Alittlemorejustice,Mr.Manager,ifyouplease.Youdonotdeservetheoffi