CHAPTER XV

MissCrawfordacceptedthepartveryreadilyandsoonafterMissBertram’sreturnfromtheParsonage,Mr.Rushwortharrived,andanothercharacterwasconsequentlycast.HehadtheofferofCountCasselandAnhalt,andatfirstdidnotknowwhichtochuse,andwantedMissBertramtodirecthimbutuponbeingmadetounderstandthedifferentstyleofthecharacters,andwhichwaswhich,andrecollectingthathehadonceseentheplayinLondon,andhadthoughtAnhaltaverystupidfellow,hesoondecidedfortheCount.MissBertramapprovedthedecision,forthelesshehadtolearnthebetterandthoughshecouldnotsympathiseinhiswishthattheCountandAgathamightbetoacttogether,norwaitverypatientlywhilehewasslowlyturningovertheleaveswiththehopeofstilldiscoveringsuchascene,sheverykindlytookhispartinhand,andcurtailedeveryspeechthatadmittedbeingshortenedbesidespointingoutthenecessityofhisbeingverymuchdressed,andchusinghiscolours.Mr.Rushworthlikedtheideaofhisfineryverywell,thoughaffectingtodespiseitandwastoomuchengagedwithwhathisownappearancewouldbetothinkoftheothers,ordrawanyofthoseconclusions,orfeelanyofthatdispleasurewhichMariahadbeenhalfpreparedfor. ThusmuchwassettledbeforeEdmund,whohadbeenoutallthemorning,knewanythingofthematterbutwhenheenteredthedrawing-roombeforedinner,thebuzzofdiscussionwashighbetweenTom,Maria,andMr.YatesandMr.Rushworthsteppedforwardwithgreatalacritytotellhimtheagreeablenews. “Wehavegotaplay,”saidhe.“ItistobeLovers’VowsandIamtobeCountCassel,andamtocomeinfirstwithabluedressandapinksatincloak,andafterwardsamtohaveanotherfinefancysuit,bywayofashooting-dress.IdonotknowhowIshalllikeit.” Fanny’seyesfollowedEdmund,andherheartbeatforhimassheheardthisspeech,andsawhislook,andfeltwhathissensationsmustbe. “Lovers’Vows!”inatoneofthegreatestamazement,washisonlyreplytoMr.Rushworth,andheturnedtowardshisbrotherandsistersasifhardlydoubtingacontradiction. “Yes,”criedMr.Yates.“Afterallourdebatingsanddifficulties,wefindthereisnothingthatwillsuitusaltogethersowell,nothingsounexceptionable,asLovers’Vows.Thewonderisthatitshouldnothavebeenthoughtofbefore.Mystupiditywasabominable,forherewehavealltheadvantageofwhatIsawatEcclesfordanditissousefultohaveanythingofamodel!Wehavecastalmosteverypart.” “Butwhatdoyoudoforwomen?”saidEdmundgravely,andlookingatMaria. Mariablushedinspiteofherselfassheanswered,“ItakethepartwhichLadyRavenshawwastohavedone,and”(withaboldereye)“MissCrawfordistobeAmelia.” “Ishouldnothavethoughtitthesortofplaytobesoeasilyfilledup,withus,”repliedEdmund,turningawaytothefire,wheresathismother,aunt,andFanny,andseatinghimselfwithalookofgreatvexation. Mr.Rushworthfollowedhimtosay,“Icomeinthreetimes,andhavetwo-and-fortyspeeches.That’ssomething,isnotit?ButIdonotmuchliketheideaofbeingsofine.Ishallhardlyknowmyselfinabluedressandapinksatincloak.” Edmundcouldnotanswerhim.InafewminutesMr.BertramwascalledoutoftheroomtosatisfysomedoubtsofthecarpenterandbeingaccompaniedbyMr.Yates,andfollowedsoonafterwardsbyMr.Rushworth,Edmundalmostimmediatelytooktheopportunityofsaying,“Icannot,beforeMr.Yates,speakwhatIfeelastothisplay,withoutreflectingonhisfriendsatEcclesfordbutImustnow,mydearMaria,tellyou,thatIthinkitexceedinglyunfitforprivaterepresentation,andthatIhopeyouwillgiveitup.Icannotbutsupposeyouwillwhenyouhavereaditcarefullyover.Readonlythefirstactaloudtoeitheryourmotheroraunt,andseehowyoucanapproveit.Itwillnotbenecessarytosendyoutoyourfather’sjudgment,Iamconvinced.” “Weseethingsverydifferently,”criedMaria.“Iamperfectlyacquaintedwiththeplay,Iassureyouandwithaveryfewomissions,andsoforth,whichwillbemade,ofcourse,Icanseenothingobjectionableinitand