| 9:48a |
@@@@@What
have you got on?”
“The new dress that
@@@@@What
have you got on?”
“The new dress that my uncle was so good as to give me on my
cousin’s marriageI hope it is not too fine; but I thought I ought to
193
Jane Austen
wear it as soon as I could, and that I might not have such another
opportunity all the winterI hope you do not think me too fine
“A woman can never be too fine while she is all in whiteNo, I see
no finery about you; nothing but what is perfectly properYour
gown seems very prettyI like these glossy spotsHas not Miss
Crawford a gown something the same?”
In approaching the Parsonage they passed close by the stable-yard
and coach-house
“Heyday!” said Edmund, “here’s company, here’s a carriage! who
have they got to meet us?” And letting down the side-glass to distinguish,
“’Tis Crawford’s, Crawford’s barouche, I protest! There are
his own two men pushing it back into its old quartersHe is here, of
courseThis is quite a surprise, FannyI shall be very glad to see
him
There was no occasion, there was no time for Fanny to say how
very differently she felt; but the idea of having such another to observe
her was a great increase of the trepidation with which she
performed the very awful ceremony of walking into the drawingroom
In the drawing-room MrCrawford certainly was, having been
just long enough arrived to be ready for dinner; and the smiles and
pleased looks of the three others standing round him, shewed how
welcome was his sudden resolution of coming to them for a few
days on leaving BathA very cordial meeting passed between him
and Edmund; and with the exception of Fanny, the pleasure was
general; and even to her there might be some advantage in his presence,
since every addition to the party must rather forward her
favourite indulgence of being suffered to sit silent and unattended
toShe was soon aware of this herself; for though she must submit,
as her own propriety of mind directed, in spite of her aunt Norris’s
opinion, to being the principal lady in company, and to all the little
distinctions consequent thereon, she found, while they were at table,
such a happy flow of conversation prevailing, in which she was not
required to take any part—there was so much to be said between
the brother and sister about Bath, so much between the two young
men about hunting, so much of politics between MrGrant, and of everything and all together between MrCrawford
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Mansfield Park
and MrsGrant, as to leave her the fairest prospect of having only to
listen in quiet, and of passing a very agreeable dayShe could not
compliment the newly arrived gentleman, however, with any appearance
of interest, in a scheme for extending his stay at Mansfield,
and sending for his hunters from Norfolk, which, suggested by Dr
Grant, advised by Edmund, and warmly urged by the two sisters,
was soon in possession of his mind, and which he seemed to want
to be encouraged even by her to resolve onHer opinion was sought
as to the probable continuance of the open weather, but her answers
were as short and indifferent as civility allowedShe could not wish
him to stay, and would much rather not have him speak to her
Her two absent cousins, especially Maria, were much in her
thoughts on seeing him; but no embarrassing remembrance affected
his spir |