CHAPTER XXXIII

ntheircharacters,oranythingunfriendlyintheirsituationsandpositivelydeclared,thathewouldstilllove,andstillhope! Fannyknewherownmeaning,butwasnojudgeofherownmanner.Hermannerwasincurablygentleandshewasnotawarehowmuchitconcealedthesternnessofherpurpose.Herdiffidence,gratitude,andsoftnessmadeeveryexpressionofindifferenceseemalmostaneffortofself-denialseem,atleast,tobegivingnearlyasmuchpaintoherselfastohim.Mr.CrawfordwasnolongertheMr.Crawfordwho,astheclandestine,insidious,treacherousadmirerofMariaBertram,hadbeenherabhorrence,whomshehadhatedtoseeortospeakto,inwhomshecouldbelievenogoodqualitytoexist,andwhosepower,evenofbeingagreeable,shehadbarelyacknowledged.HewasnowtheMr.Crawfordwhowasaddressingherselfwithardent,disinterestedlovewhosefeelingswereapparentlybecomeallthatwashonourableandupright,whoseviewsofhappinesswereallfixedonamarriageofattachmentwhowaspouringouthissenseofhermerits,describinganddescribingagainhisaffection,provingasfaraswordscouldproveit,andinthelanguage,tone,andspiritofamanoftalenttoo,thathesoughtherforhergentlenessandhergoodnessandtocompletethewhole,hewasnowtheMr.CrawfordwhohadprocuredWilliam’spromotion! Herewasachange,andherewereclaimswhichcouldnotbutoperate!Shemighthavedisdainedhiminallthedignityofangryvirtue,inthegroundsofSotherton,orthetheatreatMansfieldParkbutheapproachedhernowwithrightsthatdemandeddifferenttreatment.Shemustbecourteous,andshemustbecompassionate.Shemusthaveasensationofbeinghonoured,andwhetherthinkingofherselforherbrother,shemusthaveastrongfeelingofgratitude.Theeffectofthewholewasamannersopityingandagitated,andwordsintermingledwithherrefusalsoexpressiveofobligationandconcern,thattoatemperofvanityandhopelikeCrawford’s,thetruth,oratleastthestrengthofherindifference,mightwellbequestionableandhewasnotsoirrationalasFannyconsideredhim,intheprofessionsofpersevering,assiduous,andnotdespondingattachmentwhichclosedtheinterview. Itwaswithreluctancethathesufferedhertogobuttherewasnolookofdespairinpartingtobeliehiswords,orgiveherhopesofhisbeinglessunreasonablethanheprofessedhimself. Nowshewasangry.Someresentmentdidariseataperseverancesoselfishandungenerous.Herewasagainawantofdelicacyandregardforotherswhichhadformerlysostruckanddisgustedher.HerewasagainasomethingofthesameMr.Crawfordwhomshehadsoreprobatedbefore.Howevidentlywasthereagrosswantoffeelingandhumanitywherehisownpleasurewasconcerned—And,alas!howalwaysknownnoprincipletosupplyasadutywhattheheartwasdeficientin.Hadherownaffectionsbeenasfree—asperhapstheyoughttohavebeen—henevercouldhaveengagedthem. SothoughtFanny,ingoodtruthandsobersadness,asshesatmusingoverthattoogreatindulgenceandl