CHAPTER XV

dvice,”saidhecalmly,“isthatyouchangetheplay.” “Ishouldhavenoobjection,”shereplied“forthoughIshouldnotparticularlydislikethepartofAmeliaifwellsupported,thatis,ifeverythingwentwell,Ishallbesorrytobeaninconveniencebutastheydonotchusetohearyouradviceatthattable”(lookinground),“itcertainlywillnotbetaken.” Edmundsaidnomore. “Ifanypartcouldtemptyoutoact,IsupposeitwouldbeAnhalt,”observedtheladyarchly,afterashortpause“forheisaclergyman,youknow.” “Thatcircumstancewouldbynomeanstemptme,”hereplied,“forIshouldbesorrytomakethecharacterridiculousbybadacting.ItmustbeverydifficulttokeepAnhaltfromappearingaformal,solemnlecturerandthemanwhochusestheprofessionitselfis,perhaps,oneofthelastwhowouldwishtorepresentitonthestage.” MissCrawfordwassilenced,andwithsomefeelingsofresentmentandmortification,movedherchairconsiderablynearerthetea-table,andgaveallherattentiontoMrs.Norris,whowaspresidingthere. “Fanny,”criedTomBertram,fromtheothertable,wheretheconferencewaseagerlycarryingon,andtheconversationincessant,“wewantyourservices.” Fannywasupinamoment,expectingsomeerrandforthehabitofemployingherinthatwaywasnotyetovercome,inspiteofallthatEdmundcoulddo. “Oh!wedonotwanttodisturbyoufromyourseat.Wedonotwantyourpresentservices.Weshallonlywantyouinourplay.YoumustbeCottager’swife.” “Me!”criedFanny,sittingdownagainwithamostfrightenedlook.“Indeedyoumustexcuseme.Icouldnotactanythingifyouweretogivemetheworld.No,indeed,Icannotact.” “Indeed,butyoumust,forwecannotexcuseyou.Itneednotfrightenyou:itisanothingofapart,amerenothing,notabovehalfadozenspeechesaltogether,anditwillnotmuchsignifyifnobodyhearsawordyousaysoyoumaybeascreep-mouseasyoulike,butwemusthaveyoutolookat.” “Ifyouareafraidofhalfadozenspeeches,”criedMr.Rushworth,“whatwouldyoudowithsuchapartasmine?Ihaveforty-twotolearn.” “ItisnotthatIamafraidoflearningbyheart,”saidFanny,shockedtofindherselfatthatmomenttheonlyspeakerintheroom,andtofeelthatalmosteveryeyewasuponher“butIreallycannotact.” “Yes,yes,youcanactwellenoughforus.Learnyourpart,andwewillteachyoualltherest.Youhaveonlytwoscenes,andasIshallbeCottager,I’llputyouinandpushyouabout,andyouwilldoitverywell,I’llanswerforit.” “No,indeed,Mr.Bertram,youmustexcuseme.Youcannothaveanidea.Itwouldbeabsolutelyimpossibleforme.IfIweretoundertakeit,Ishouldonlydisappointyou.” “Phoo!Phoo!Donotbesoshamefaced.You’lldoitverywell.Everyallowancewillbemadeforyou.Wedonotexpectperfection.Youmustgetabrowngown,andawhiteapron,andamobcap,andwemustmakeyouafewwrinkles,andalittleofthecrowsfootatthecornerofyoureyes,andyouwillbeaveryproper,littleoldwoman.” “Youmustexcuseme,indeedyoumustexcuseme,”criedFanny,growingmoreandmoreredfromexcessiveagitation,andlookingdistressfullyatEdmund,whowaskindlyobservingherbutunwillingtoexasperatehisbrotherbyinterference,gaveheronlyanencouragingsmile.HerentreatyhadnoeffectonTom:heonlysaidagainwhathehadsaidbeforeanditwasnotmerelyTom,fortherequisitionwasnowbackedbyMaria,andMr.Crawford,andMr.Yates,withanurgencywhichdifferedfromhisbutinbeingmoregentleormoreceremonious,andwhichaltogetherwasquiteoverpoweringtoFannyandbeforeshecouldbreatheafterit,Mrs.Norriscompletedthewholebythusaddressingherinawhisperatonceangryandaudible—“Whatapieceofworkhereisaboutnothing:Iamquiteashamedofyou,Fanny,tomakesuchadifficultyofobligingyourcousinsinatrifleofthissort—sokindastheyaretoyou!Takethepartwithagoodgrace,andletushearnomoreofthematter,Ientreat.” “Donoturgeher,madam,”saidEdmund.“Itisnotfairtourgeherinthismanner.Youseeshedoesnotliketoact.Lether