CHAPTER XV

chuseforherself,aswellastherestofus.Herjudgmentmaybequiteassafelytrusted.Donoturgeheranymore.” “Iamnotgoingtourgeher,”repliedMrs.Norrissharply“butIshallthinkheraveryobstinate,ungratefulgirl,ifshedoesnotdowhatherauntandcousinswishher—veryungrateful,indeed,consideringwhoandwhatsheis.” EdmundwastooangrytospeakbutMissCrawford,lookingforamomentwithastonishedeyesatMrs.Norris,andthenatFanny,whosetearswerebeginningtoshewthemselves,immediatelysaid,withsomekeenness,“Idonotlikemysituation:thisplaceistoohotforme,”andmovedawayherchairtotheoppositesideofthetable,closetoFanny,sayingtoher,inakind,lowwhisper,assheplacedherself,“Nevermind,mydearMissPrice,thisisacrossevening:everybodyiscrossandteasing,butdonotletusmindthem”andwithpointedattentioncontinuedtotalktoherandendeavourtoraiseherspirits,inspiteofbeingoutofspiritsherself.Byalookatherbrothershepreventedanyfartherentreatyfromthetheatricalboard,andthereallygoodfeelingsbywhichshewasalmostpurelygovernedwererapidlyrestoringhertoallthelittleshehadlostinEdmund’sfavour. FannydidnotloveMissCrawfordbutshefeltverymuchobligedtoherforherpresentkindnessandwhen,fromtakingnoticeofherwork,andwishingshecouldworkaswell,andbeggingforthepattern,andsupposingFannywasnowpreparingforherappearance,asofcourseshewouldcomeoutwhenhercousinwasmarried,MissCrawfordproceededtoinquireifshehadheardlatelyfromherbrotheratsea,andsaidthatshehadquiteacuriositytoseehim,andimaginedhimaveryfineyoungman,andadvisedFannytogethispicturedrawnbeforehewenttoseaagain—shecouldnothelpadmittingittobeveryagreeableflattery,orhelplistening,andansweringwithmoreanimationthanshehadintended. Theconsultationupontheplaystillwenton,andMissCrawford’sattentionwasfirstcalledfromFannybyTomBertram’stellingher,withinfiniteregret,thathefounditabsolutelyimpossibleforhimtoundertakethepartofAnhaltinadditiontotheButler:hehadbeenmostanxiouslytryingtomakeitouttobefeasible,butitwouldnotdohemustgiveitup.“Buttherewillnotbethesmallestdifficultyinfillingit,”headded.“Wehavebuttospeakthewordwemaypickandchuse.Icouldname,atthismoment,atleastsixyoungmenwithinsixmilesofus,whoarewildtobeadmittedintoourcompany,andthereareoneortwothatwouldnotdisgraceus:IshouldnotbeafraidtotrusteitheroftheOliversorCharlesMaddox.TomOliverisaverycleverfellow,andCharlesMaddoxisasgentlemanlikeamanasyouwillseeanywhere,soIwilltakemyhorseearlyto-morrowmorningandrideovertoStoke,andsettlewithoneofthem.” Whilehespoke,MariawaslookingapprehensivelyroundatEdmundinfullexpectationthathemustopposesuchanenlargementoftheplanasthis:socontrarytoalltheirfirstprotestationsbutEdmundsaidnothing.Afteramoment’sthought,MissCrawfordcalmlyreplied,“AsfarasIamconcerned,Icanhavenoobjectiontoanythingthatyouallthinkeligible.HaveIeverseeneitherofthegentlemen?Yes,Mr.CharlesMaddoxdinedatmysister’soneday,didnothe,Henry?Aquiet-lookingyoungman.Irememberhim.Lethimbeappliedto,ifyouplease,foritwillbelessunpleasanttomethantohaveaperfectstranger.” CharlesMaddoxwastobetheman.TomrepeatedhisresolutionofgoingtohimearlyonthemorrowandthoughJulia,whohadscarcelyopenedherlipsbefore,observed,inasarcasticmanner,andwithaglancefirstatMariaandthenatEdmund,that“theMansfieldtheatricalswouldenliventhewholeneighbourhoodexceedingly,”Edmundstillheldhispeace,andshewedhisfeelingsonlybyadeterminedgravity. “Iamnotverysanguineastoourplay,”saidMissCrawford,inanundervoicetoFanny,aftersomeconsideration“andIcantellMr.MaddoxthatIshallshortensomeofhisspeeches,andagreatmanyofmyown,beforewerehearsetogether.Itwillbeverydisagreeable,andbynomeanswhatIexpected.”