CHAPTER XVIII

festoons.” LadyBertramseemedquiteresignedtowaiting.Fannydidnotshareheraunt’scomposure:shethoughtofthemorrowagreatdeal,forifthethreeactswererehearsed,EdmundandMissCrawfordwouldthenbeactingtogetherforthefirsttimethethirdactwouldbringascenebetweenthemwhichinterestedhermostparticularly,andwhichshewaslonginganddreadingtoseehowtheywouldperform.Thewholesubjectofitwaslove—amarriageoflovewastobedescribedbythegentleman,andverylittleshortofadeclarationoflovebemadebythelady. Shehadreadandreadthesceneagainwithmanypainful,manywonderingemotions,andlookedforwardtotheirrepresentationofitasacircumstancealmosttoointeresting.Shedidnotbelievetheyhadyetrehearsedit,eveninprivate. Themorrowcame,theplanfortheeveningcontinued,andFanny’sconsiderationofitdidnotbecomelessagitated.Sheworkedverydiligentlyunderheraunt’sdirections,butherdiligenceandhersilenceconcealedaveryabsent,anxiousmindandaboutnoonshemadeherescapewithherworktotheEastroom,thatshemighthavenoconcerninanother,and,asshedeemedit,mostunnecessaryrehearsalofthefirstact,whichHenryCrawfordwasjustproposing,desirousatonceofhavinghertimetoherself,andofavoidingthesightofMr.Rushworth.Aglimpse,asshepassedthroughthehall,ofthetwoladieswalkingupfromtheParsonagemadenochangeinherwishofretreat,andsheworkedandmeditatedintheEastroom,undisturbed,foraquarterofanhour,whenagentletapatthedoorwasfollowedbytheentranceofMissCrawford. “AmIright?YesthisistheEastroom.MydearMissPrice,Ibegyourpardon,butIhavemademywaytoyouonpurposetoentreatyourhelp.” Fanny,quitesurprised,endeavouredtoshewherselfmistressoftheroombyhercivilities,andlookedatthebrightbarsofheremptygratewithconcern. “ThankyouIamquitewarm,verywarm.Allowmetostayherealittlewhile,anddohavethegoodnesstohearmemythirdact.Ihavebroughtmybook,andifyouwouldbutrehearseitwithme,Ishouldbesoobliged!Icamehereto-dayintendingtorehearseitwithEdmund—byourselves—againsttheevening,butheisnotinthewayandifhewere,IdonotthinkIcouldgothroughitwithhim,tillIhavehardenedmyselfalittleforreallythereisaspeechortwo.Youwillbesogood,won’tyou?” Fannywasmostcivilinherassurances,thoughshecouldnotgivetheminaverysteadyvoice. “HaveyoueverhappenedtolookatthepartImean?”continuedMissCrawford,openingherbook.“Hereitis.Ididnotthinkmuchofitatfirst—but,uponmyword.There,lookatthatspeech,andthat,andthat.HowamIevertolookhiminthefaceandsaysuchthings?Couldyoudoit?Butthenheisyourcousin,whichmakesallthedifference.Youmustrehearseitwithme,thatImayfancyyouhim,andgetonbydegrees.Youhavealookofhissometimes.” “HaveI?IwilldomybestwiththegreatestreadinessbutImustreadthepart,forIcansayverylittleofit.” “Noneofit,Isuppose.Youaretohavethebook,ofcourse.Nowforit.Wemusthavetwochairsathandforyoutobringforwardtothefrontofthestage.There—verygoodschool-roomchairs,notmadeforatheatre,Idaresaymuchmorefittedforlit