CHAPTER XXXIII

uxuryofafireupstairs:wonderingatthepastandpresentwonderingatwhatwasyettocome,andinanervousagitationwhichmadenothingcleartoherbutthepersuasionofherbeingneverunderanycircumstancesabletoloveMr.Crawford,andthefelicityofhavingafiretositoverandthinkofit. SirThomaswasobliged,orobligedhimself,towaittillthemorrowforaknowledgeofwhathadpassedbetweentheyoungpeople.HethensawMr.Crawford,andreceivedhisaccount.Thefirstfeelingwasdisappointment:hehadhopedbetterthingshehadthoughtthatanhour’sentreatyfromayoungmanlikeCrawfordcouldnothaveworkedsolittlechangeonagentle-temperedgirllikeFannybuttherewasspeedycomfortinthedeterminedviewsandsanguineperseveranceoftheloverandwhenseeingsuchconfidenceofsuccessintheprincipal,SirThomaswassoonabletodependonithimself. Nothingwasomitted,onhisside,ofcivility,compliment,orkindness,thatmightassisttheplan.Mr.Crawford’ssteadinesswashonoured,andFannywaspraised,andtheconnexionwasstillthemostdesirableintheworld.AtMansfieldParkMr.Crawfordwouldalwaysbewelcomehehadonlytoconsulthisownjudgmentandfeelingsastothefrequencyofhisvisits,atpresentorinfuture.Inallhisniece’sfamilyandfriends,therecouldbebutoneopinion,onewishonthesubjecttheinfluenceofallwholovedhermustinclineoneway. Everythingwassaidthatcouldencourage,everyencouragementreceivedwithgratefuljoy,andthegentlemenpartedthebestoffriends. Satisfiedthatthecausewasnowonafootingthemostproperandhopeful,SirThomasresolvedtoabstainfromallfartherimportunitywithhisniece,andtoshewnoopeninterference.Uponherdispositionhebelievedkindnessmightbethebestwayofworking.Entreatyshouldbefromonequarteronly.Theforbearanceofherfamilyonapoint,respectingwhichshecouldbeinnodoubtoftheirwishes,mightbetheirsurestmeansofforwardingit.Accordingly,onthisprinciple,SirThomastookthefirstopportunityofsayingtoher,withamildgravity,intendedtobeovercoming,“Well,Fanny,IhaveseenMr.Crawfordagain,andlearnfromhimexactlyhowmattersstandbetweenyou.Heisamostextraordinaryyoungman,andwhateverbetheevent,youmustfeelthatyouhavecreatedanattachmentofnocommoncharacterthough,youngasyouare,andlittleacquaintedwiththetransient,varying,unsteadynatureoflove,asitgenerallyexists,youcannotbestruckasIamwithallthatiswonderfulinaperseveranceofthissortagainstdiscouragement.Withhimitisentirelyamatteroffeeling:heclaimsnomeritinitperhapsisentitledtonone.Yet,havingchosensowell,hisconstancyhasarespectablestamp.Hadhischoicebeenlessunexceptionable,Ishouldhavecondemnedhispersevering.” “Indeed,sir,”saidFanny,“IamverysorrythatMr.Crawfordshouldcontinueto—Iknowthatitispayingmeaverygreatcompliment,andIfeelmostundeservedlyhonouredbutIamsoperfectlyconvinced,andIhavetoldhimso,thatitneverwill