CHAPTER XIV

rmed—butMarialookedallserenityandsatisfaction,andJuliawellknewthatonthisgroundMariacouldnotbehappybutatherexpense.Withhastyindignation,therefore,andatremulousvoice,shesaidtohim,“YoudonotseemafraidofnotkeepingyourcountenancewhenIcomeinwithabasketofprovisions—thoughonemighthavesupposed—butitisonlyasAgathathatIwastobesooverpowering!”Shestopped—HenryCrawfordlookedratherfoolish,andasifhedidnotknowwhattosay.TomBertrambeganagain— “MissCrawfordmustbeAmelia.ShewillbeanexcellentAmelia.” “Donotbeafraidofmywantingthecharacter,”criedJulia,withangryquickness:“IamnottobeAgatha,andIamsureIwilldonothingelseandastoAmelia,itisofallpartsintheworldthemostdisgustingtome.Iquitedetesther.Anodious,little,pert,unnatural,impudentgirl.Ihavealwaysprotestedagainstcomedy,andthisiscomedyinitsworstform.”Andsosaying,shewalkedhastilyoutoftheroom,leavingawkwardfeelingstomorethanone,butexcitingsmallcompassioninanyexceptFanny,whohadbeenaquietauditorofthewhole,andwhocouldnotthinkofherasundertheagitationsofjealousywithoutgreatpity. AshortsilencesucceededherleavingthembutherbrothersoonreturnedtobusinessandLovers’Vows,andwaseagerlylookingovertheplay,withMr.Yates’shelp,toascertainwhatscenerywouldbenecessary—whileMariaandHenryCrawfordconversedtogetherinanunder-voice,andthedeclarationwithwhichshebeganof,“IamsureIwouldgiveuptheparttoJuliamostwillingly,butthatthoughIshallprobablydoitveryill,Ifeelpersuadedshewoulddoitworse,”wasdoubtlessreceivingallthecomplimentsitcalledfor. Whenthishadlastedsometime,thedivisionofthepartywascompletedbyTomBertramandMr.YateswalkingofftogethertoconsultfartherintheroomnowbeginningtobecalledtheTheatre,andMissBertram’sresolvingtogodowntotheParsonageherselfwiththeofferofAmeliatoMissCrawfordandFannyremainedalone. Thefirstuseshemadeofhersolitudewastotakeupthevolumewhichhadbeenleftonthetable,andbegintoacquaintherselfwiththeplayofwhichshehadheardsomuch.Hercuriositywasallawake,andsheranthroughitwithaneagernesswhichwassuspendedonlybyintervalsofastonishment,thatitcouldbechoseninthepresentinstance,thatitcouldbeproposedandacceptedinaprivatetheatre!AgathaandAmeliaappearedtoherintheirdifferentwayssototallyimproperforhomerepresentation—thesituationofone,andthelanguageoftheother,sounfittobeexpressedbyanywomanofmodesty,thatshecouldhardlysupposehercousinscouldbeawareofwhattheywereengaginginandlongedtohavethemrousedassoonaspossiblebytheremonstrancewhichEdmundwouldcertainlymake.