CHAPTER XVIII

yfineinallthis?Forthelifeandsoulofme,Icannotadmirehimand,betweenourselves,toseesuchanundersized,little,mean-lookingman,setupforafineactor,isveryridiculousinmyopinion.” Fromthismomenttherewasareturnofhisformerjealousy,whichMaria,fromincreasinghopesofCrawford,wasatlittlepainstoremoveandthechancesofMr.Rushworth’severattainingtotheknowledgeofhistwo-and-fortyspeechesbecamemuchless.Astohisevermakinganythingtolerableofthem,nobodyhadthesmallestideaofthatexcepthismothershe,indeed,regrettedthathispartwasnotmoreconsiderable,anddeferredcomingovertoMansfieldtilltheywereforwardenoughintheirrehearsaltocomprehendallhisscenesbuttheothersaspiredatnothingbeyondhisrememberingthecatchword,andthefirstlineofhisspeech,andbeingabletofollowtheprompterthroughtherest.Fanny,inherpityandkindheartedness,wasatgreatpainstoteachhimhowtolearn,givinghimallthehelpsanddirectionsinherpower,tryingtomakeanartificialmemoryforhim,andlearningeverywordofhispartherself,butwithouthisbeingmuchtheforwarder. Manyuncomfortable,anxious,apprehensivefeelingsshecertainlyhadbutwithallthese,andotherclaimsonhertimeandattention,shewasasfarfromfindingherselfwithoutemploymentorutilityamongstthem,aswithoutacompanioninuneasinessquiteasfarfromhavingnodemandonherleisureasonhercompassion.Thegloomofherfirstanticipationswasprovedtohavebeenunfounded.Shewasoccasionallyusefultoallshewasperhapsasmuchatpeaceasany. Therewasagreatdealofneedleworktobedone,moreover,inwhichherhelpwaswantedandthatMrs.Norristhoughtherquiteaswelloffastherest,wasevidentbythemannerinwhichsheclaimedit—“Come,Fanny,”shecried,“thesearefinetimesforyou,butyoumustnotbealwayswalkingfromoneroomtotheother,anddoingthelookings-onatyourease,inthiswayIwantyouhere.IhavebeenslavingmyselftillIcanhardlystand,tocontriveMr.Rushworth’scloakwithoutsendingforanymoresatinandnowIthinkyoumaygivemeyourhelpinputtingittogether.Therearebutthreeseamsyoumaydotheminatrice.ItwouldbeluckyformeifIhadnothingbuttheexecutiveparttodo.Youarebestoff,Icantellyou:butifnobodydidmorethanyou,weshouldnotgetonveryfast.” Fannytooktheworkveryquietly,withoutattemptinganydefencebutherkinderauntBertramobservedonherbehalf— “Onecannotwonder,sister,thatFannyshouldbedelighted:itisallnewtoher,youknowyouandIusedtobeveryfondofaplayourselves,andsoamIstillandassoonasIamalittlemoreatleisure,Imeantolookinattheirrehearsalstoo.Whatistheplayabout,Fanny?youhavenevertoldme.” “Oh!sister,praydonotaskhernowforFannyisnotoneofthosewhocantalkandworkatthesametime.ItisaboutLovers’Vows.” “Ibelieve,”saidFannytoherauntBertram,“therewillbethreeactsrehearsedto-morrowevening,andthatwillgiveyouanopportunityofseeingalltheactorsatonce.” “Youhadbetterstaytillthecurtainishung,”interposedMrs.Norris“thecurtainwillbehunginadayortwo—thereisverylittlesenseinaplaywithoutacurtain—andIammuchmistakenifyoudonotfinditdrawupintoveryhandsome