CHAPTER XVII

edidlovestill,andshehadallthesufferingwhichawarmtemperandahighspiritwerelikelytoendureunderthedisappointmentofadear,thoughirrationalhope,withastrongsenseofill-usage.Herheartwassoreandangry,andshewascapableonlyofangryconsolations.Thesisterwithwhomshewasusedtobeoneasytermswasnowbecomehergreatestenemy:theywerealienatedfromeachotherandJuliawasnotsuperiortothehopeofsomedistressingendtotheattentionswhichwerestillcarryingonthere,somepunishmenttoMariaforconductsoshamefultowardsherselfaswellastowardsMr.Rushworth.Withnomaterialfaultoftemper,ordifferenceofopinion,topreventtheirbeingverygoodfriendswhiletheirinterestswerethesame,thesisters,undersuchatrialasthis,hadnotaffectionorprincipleenoughtomakethemmercifulorjust,togivethemhonourorcompassion.Mariafelthertriumph,andpursuedherpurpose,carelessofJuliaandJuliacouldneverseeMariadistinguishedbyHenryCrawfordwithouttrustingthatitwouldcreatejealousy,andbringapublicdisturbanceatlast. FannysawandpitiedmuchofthisinJuliabuttherewasnooutwardfellowshipbetweenthem.Juliamadenocommunication,andFannytooknoliberties.Theyweretwosolitarysufferers,orconnectedonlybyFanny’sconsciousness. TheinattentionofthetwobrothersandtheaunttoJulia’sdiscomposure,andtheirblindnesstoitstruecause,mustbeimputedtothefullnessoftheirownminds.Theyweretotallypreoccupied.Tomwasengrossedbytheconcernsofhistheatre,andsawnothingthatdidnotimmediatelyrelatetoit.Edmund,betweenhistheatricalandhisrealpart,betweenMissCrawford’sclaimsandhisownconduct,betweenloveandconsistency,wasequallyunobservantandMrs.Norriswastoobusyincontrivinganddirectingthegenerallittlemattersofthecompany,superintendingtheirvariousdresseswitheconomicalexpedient,forwhichnobodythankedher,andsaving,withdelightedintegrity,halfacrownhereandtheretotheabsentSirThomas,tohaveleisureforwatchingthebehaviour,orguardingthehappinessofhisdaughters.