CHAPTER XVIII

Everythingwasnowinaregulartrain:theatre,actors,actresses,anddresses,wereallgettingforwardbutthoughnoothergreatimpedimentsarose,Fannyfound,beforemanydayswerepast,thatitwasnotalluninterruptedenjoymenttothepartythemselves,andthatshehadnottowitnessthecontinuanceofsuchunanimityanddelightashadbeenalmosttoomuchforheratfirst.Everybodybegantohavetheirvexation.Edmundhadmany.Entirelyagainsthisjudgment,ascene-painterarrivedfromtown,andwasatwork,muchtotheincreaseoftheexpenses,and,whatwasworse,oftheeclatoftheirproceedingsandhisbrother,insteadofbeingreallyguidedbyhimastotheprivacyoftherepresentation,wasgivinganinvitationtoeveryfamilywhocameinhisway.Tomhimselfbegantofretoverthescene-painter’sslowprogress,andtofeelthemiseriesofwaiting.Hehadlearnedhispart—allhisparts,forhetookeverytriflingonethatcouldbeunitedwiththeButler,andbegantobeimpatienttobeactingandeverydaythusunemployedwastendingtoincreasehissenseoftheinsignificanceofallhispartstogether,andmakehimmorereadytoregretthatsomeotherplayhadnotbeenchosen. Fanny,beingalwaysaverycourteouslistener,andoftentheonlylistenerathand,cameinforthecomplaintsandthedistressesofmostofthem.SheknewthatMr.YateswasingeneralthoughttorantdreadfullythatMr.YateswasdisappointedinHenryCrawfordthatTomBertramspokesoquickhewouldbeunintelligiblethatMrs.GrantspoiledeverythingbylaughingthatEdmundwasbehindhandwithhispart,andthatitwasmiserytohaveanythingtodowithMr.Rushworth,whowaswantingaprompterthrougheveryspeech.Sheknew,also,thatpoorMr.Rushworthcouldseldomgetanybodytorehearsewithhim:hiscomplaintcamebeforeheraswellastherestandsodecidedtohereyewashercousinMaria’savoidanceofhim,andsoneedlesslyoftentherehearsalofthefirstscenebetweenherandMr.Crawford,thatshehadsoonalltheterrorofothercomplaintsfromhim.Sofarfrombeingallsatisfiedandallenjoying,shefoundeverybodyrequiringsomethingtheyhadnot,andgivingoccasionofdiscontenttotheothers.Everybodyhadaparteithertoolongortooshortnobodywouldattendastheyoughtnobodywouldrememberonwhichsidetheyweretocomeinnobodybutthecomplainerwouldobserveanydirections. FannybelievedherselftoderiveasmuchinnocentenjoymentfromtheplayasanyofthemHenryCrawfordactedwell,anditwasapleasuretohertocreepintothetheatre,andattendtherehearsalofthefirstact,inspiteofthefeelingsitexcitedinsomespeechesforMaria.Maria,shealsothought,actedwell,toowellandafterthefirstrehearsalortwo,Fannybegantobetheironlyaudienceandsometimesasprompter,sometimesasspectator,wasoftenveryuseful.Asfarasshecouldjudge,Mr.Crawfordwasconsiderablythebestactorofall:hehadmoreconfidencethanEdmund,morejudgmentthanTom,moretalentandtastethanMr.Yates.Shedidnotlikehimasaman,butshemustadmithimtobethebestactor,andonthispointtherewerenotmanywhodifferedfromher.Mr.Yates,indeed,exclaimedagainsthistamenessandinsipidityandthedaycameatlast,whenMr.Rushworthturnedtoherwithablacklook,andsaid,“Doyouthinkthereisanythingsover