CHAPTER XVII
關燈
小
中
大
oherandthat,hadshereceivedeventhegreatest,shecouldneverhavebeeneasyinjoiningaschemewhich,consideringonlyheruncle,shemustcondemnaltogether.
Fanny’sheartwasnotabsolutelytheonlysaddenedoneamongstthem,asshesoonbegantoacknowledgetoherself.Juliawasasufferertoo,thoughnotquitesoblamelessly.
HenryCrawfordhadtrifledwithherfeelingsbutshehadverylongallowedandevensoughthisattentions,withajealousyofhersistersoreasonableasoughttohavebeentheircureandnowthattheconvictionofhispreferenceforMariahadbeenforcedonher,shesubmittedtoitwithoutanyalarmforMaria’ssituation,oranyendeavouratrationaltranquillityforherself.Sheeithersatingloomysilence,wraptinsuchgravityasnothingcouldsubdue,nocuriositytouch,nowitamuseorallowingtheattentionsofMr.Yates,wastalkingwithforcedgaietytohimalone,andridiculingtheactingoftheothers.
Foradayortwoaftertheaffrontwasgiven,HenryCrawfordhadendeavouredtodoitawaybytheusualattackofgallantryandcompliment,buthehadnotcaredenoughaboutittopersevereagainstafewrepulsesandbecomingsoontoobusywithhisplaytohavetimeformorethanoneflirtation,hegrewindifferenttothequarrel,orratherthoughtitaluckyoccurrence,asquietlyputtinganendtowhatmighterelonghaveraisedexpectationsinmorethanMrs.Grant.ShewasnotpleasedtoseeJuliaexcludedfromtheplay,andsittingbydisregardedbutasitwasnotamatterwhichreallyinvolvedherhappiness,asHenrymustbethebestjudgeofhisown,andashedidassureher,withamostpersuasivesmile,thatneitherhenorJuliahadeverhadaseriousthoughtofeachother,shecouldonlyrenewherformercautionastotheeldersister,entreathimnottoriskhistranquillitybytoomuchadmirationthere,andthengladlytakehershareinanythingthatbroughtcheerfulnesstotheyoungpeopleingeneral,andthatdidsoparticularlypromotethepleasureofthetwosodeartoher.
“IratherwonderJuliaisnotinlovewithHenry,”washerobservationtoMary.
“Idaresaysheis,”repliedMarycoldly.“Iimagi
