?No man can like being
driven into the appearance of such inconsistencyAfter being known
to oppose the scheme from the beginning, there is absurdity in the
face of my joining them now, when they are exceeding their first
plan in every respect; but I can think of no other alternativeCan
you, Fanny??
?No,? said Fanny slowly, ?not immediately, but?
?But what? I see your judgment is not with meThink it a little
overPerhaps you are not so much aware as I am of the mischief that
may, of the unpleasantness that must arise from a young man?s being
received in this manner: domesticated among us; authorised to come
at all hours, and placed suddenly on a footing which must do away all
restraintsTo think only of the licence which every rehearsal must
136
Mansfield Park
tend to createIt is all very bad! Put yourself in Miss Crawford?s place,
FannyConsider what it would be to act Amelia with a strangerShe
has a right to be felt for, because she evidently feels http://www.ualuxury.com/categorys_105_Chanel-Earrings_1.html" target="_blank for herselfI heard
enough of what she said to you last night to understand her unwillingness
to be acting with a stranger; and as she probably engaged in
the part with different expectations?perhaps without considering
the subject enough to know what was likely to be?it would be ungenerous,
it would be really wrong to expose her to itHer feelings
ought to be respectedDoes it not strike you so, Fanny? You hesitate
?I am sorry for Miss Crawford; but I am more sorry to see you
drawn in to do what you had resolved against, and what you are
known to think will be disagreeable to my uncleIt will be such a
triumph to the others!?
?They will not have much cause of triumph when they see how
infamously I actBut, however, triumph there certainly will be, and
I must brave itBut if I can be the means of restraining the publicity
of the business, of limiting the exhibition, of concentrating our folly,
I shall be well repaidAs I am now, I have no influence, I can http://www.ualuxury.com/search_0_0_0_fairy_1.html" target="_blank do
nothing: I have offended them, and they will not hear me; but when
I have put them in good-humour by this concession, I am not without
hopes of persuading them to confine the representation within
a much smaller circle than they are now in the high road forThis
will be a material gainMy object is to confine it to MrsRushworth
and the GrantsWill not this be worth gaining??
?Yes, it will be a great point
?But still it has not your approbationCan you mention any other
measure by which I have a chance of doing equal good??
?No, I cannot think of anything else
?Give me your approbation, then, FannyI am not comfortable
without it
?Oh, cousin!?
?If you are against me, I ought to distrust myself, and yet?But it
is absolutely impossible to let Tom go on in this way, riding about
the country in quest of anybody who can be persuaded to act?no
matter whom: the look of a gentleman is to be enoughI thought
you would have entered more into Miss Crawford?s http://www.enluxury.com/scategory_2_Chanel.html" target="_blank feelings
?No doubt she will be very gladIt must be a great relief to her,?
137
Jane Austen
said Fanny, trying for greater warmth of manner
?She never appeared more amiable than in her behaviour to you
last nightIt gave her a very strong claim on my goodwill
?She was very kind, indeed, and I am glad to have her spared?
She could not finish the generous effusionHer conscience stopt
her in the middle, but Edmund was satisfied
?I shall walk down immediately after breakfast,? said he, ?and am
sure of giving pleasure thereAnd now, dear Fanny, I will not interrupt
you any longerYou want to be readingBut I could not be easy
till I had spoken to you, and come to a decisionSleeping or waking,
my head has been full of this matter all nightIt is an evil, but
I am certainly making it less than it might beIf Tom is up, I shall
go to him directly and get it over, and when we meet at breakfast we
shall be all in high good-humour at the prospect of acting the http://www.ooluxury.com/category_27_Chanel-Watches_1.html" target="_blank fool
together with such unanimityYou, in the meanwhile, will be taking
a trip into China, I supposeHow does Lord Macartney go on???
opening a volume on the table and then taking up some others
?And here are Crabbe?s Tales, and the Idler, at hand to relieve you, if
you tire of your great bookI admire your little establishment exceedingly;
and as soon as I am gone, you will empty your head of all
this nonsense of acting, and sit comfortably down to your table
But do not stay here to be cold
He went; but there was no reading, no China, no composure for
FannyHe had told her the most extraordinary, the most inconceivable,
the most unwelcome news; and she could think of nothing
elseTo be acting! After all his objections?objections so just and so
public! After all that she had heard him say, and seen him look, and
known him to be feelingCould it be possible? Edmund so inconsistent!
Was he not deceiving himself? Was he not wrong? Alas! it
was all Miss Crawford?s http://www.ualuxury.com/categorys_4_Monogram-Denim_1.html" target="_blank doin