There were not fewer smiles at the Parsonage than at the Park on this change in Edmund;Miss Crawford looked very lovely in hers,and entered with such an instantaneous renewal of cheerfulness into the whole affair,as could have but one effect on him.‘He was certainly right in respecting such feelings;he was glad he had determined on it.’And the morning wore away in satisfactions very sweet,if not very sound.One advantage resulted from it to Fanny;at the earnest request of Miss Crawford,Mrs Grant had with her usual good humour agreed to undertake the part for which Fanny had been wanted-and this was all that occurred to gladden her heart during the day;and even this,when imparted by Edmund,brought a pang with it,for it was Miss Crawford to whom she was obliged,it was Miss Crawford whose kind exertions were to excite her gratitude,and whose merit in making them was spoken of with a glow of admiration.She was safe;but peace and safety were unconnected here.Her mind had been never farther from peace.She could not feel that she had done wrong herself,but she was disquieted in every other way.Her heart and her judgment were equally against Edmund's decision;she could not acquit his unsteadiness;and his happiness under it made her wretched.She was full of jealousy and agitation.Miss Crawford came with looks of gaiety which seemed an insult,with friendly expressions towards herself which she could hardly answer calmly.Everybody around her was gay and busy,prosperous and important,each had their object of interest,their part,their dress,their favourite scene,their friends and confederates,all were finding employment in consultations and comparisons,or diversion in the playful conceits they suggested.She alone was sad and insignificant;she had no share in anything;she might go or stay,she might be in the midst of their noise,or retreat from it to the solitude of the East room,without being seen or missed.She could almost think anything would have been preferable to this.Mrs Grant was of consequence;her good nature had honourable mention-her taste and her time were considered-her presence was wanted-she was sought for and attended,and praised;and Fanny was at first in some danger of envying her the character she had accepted.But reflection brought better feelings,and showed her that Mrs Grant was entitled to respect,which could never have belonged to her,and that had she received even the greatest,she could never have been easy in joining a scheme which,considering only her uncle,she must condemn altogether.
Fanny's heart was not absolutely the only saddened one amongst them,as she soon began to acknowledge herself.-Julia was a sufferer too,though not quite so blamelessly.
Henry Crawford had trifled with her feelings;but she had very long allowed and even sought his attentions,with a jealousy of her sister so reasonable as ought to have been their cure;and now that the conviction of his preference for Maria had been forced on her,she submitted to it without any alarm for Maria's situation,or any endeavour at rational tranquillity for herself.-She either sat in gloomy silence,wrapped in such gravity as nothing could subdue,no curiosity touch,no wit amuse;or allowing the attentions of Mr Yates,was talking with forced gaiety to him alone,and ridiculing the acting of the others.
For a day or two after the affront was given,Henry Crawford had endeavoured to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and compliment,but he had not cared enough about it to persevere against a few repulses;and becoming soon too busy with his play to have time for more than one flirtation,he grew indifferent to the quarrel,or rather thought it a lucky occurrence,as quietly putting an end to what might ere long have raised expectations in more than Mrs Grant.-She was not pleased to see Julia excluded from the play,and sitting by disregarded;but as it was not a matter which really involved her happiness,as Henry must be the best judge of his own,and as he did assure her,with a most persuasive smile,that neither he nor Julia had ever had a serious thought of each other,she could only renew her former caution as to the elder sister,entreat him not to risk his tranquillity by too much admiration there,and then gladly take her share in anything that brought cheerfulness to the young people in general,and that did so particularly promote the pleasure of the two so dear to her.
‘I rather wonder Julia is not in love with Henry,’was her observation to Mary.
‘I dare say she is,’replied Mary,coldly.‘I imagine both sisters are.’
‘Both!No,no,that must not be.Do not give him a hint of it.Think of Mr Rushworth.’
‘You had better tell Miss Bertram to think of Mr Rushworth.It may do her some good.I often think of Mr Rushworth's property and independence,and wish them in other hands-but I never think of him.A man might represent the county with such an estate;a man might escape a profession and represent the county.’
‘I dare say he will be in parliament soon.When Sir Thomas comes,I dare say he will be in for some borough,but there has been nobody to put him in the way of doing anything yet.’
‘Sir Thomas is to achieve mighty things when he comes home,’said Mary,after a pause.‘Do you remember Hawkins Browne's “Address to Tobacco,”in imitation of Pope?-
“Blest leaf!whose aromatic gales dispense
To Templars modesty,to Parsons sense.”
I will parody them:
Blest Knight!whose dictatorial looks dispense
To Children affluence,to Rushworth sense.
Will not that do,Mrs Grant?Everything seems to depend upon Sir Thomas's return.’