@@@@@He considered her rather as one who
had never thought on the subject enough to be in danger; who had
been guarded by youth, a youth of mind as lovely as of person;
whose modesty had prevented her from understanding his attentions,
and who was still overpowered by the suddenness of addresses
so wholly unexpected, and the novelty of a situation which her fancy
had never taken into account
Must it not follow of course, that, when he was understood, he
should succeed? He believed it fullyLove such as his, in a man like
283
Jane Austen
himself, must with perseverance secure a return, and at no great
distance; and he had so much delight in the idea of obliging her to
love him in a very short time, that her not loving him now was
scarcely regrettedA little difficulty to be overcome was no evil to
Henry CrawfordHe rather derived spirits from itHe had been apt
to gain hearts too easilyHis situation was new and animating
To Fanny, however, who had known too much opposition all
her life to find any charm in it, all this was unintelligibleShe
found that he did mean to persevere; but how he could, after such
language from her as she felt herself obliged to use, was not to be
understoodShe told him that she did not love him, could not
love him, was sure she never should love him; that such a change
was quite impossible; that the subject was most painful to her;
that she must entreat him never to mention it again, to allow her
to leave him at once, and let it be considered as concluded for
everAnd when farther pressed, had added, that in her opinion
their dispositions were so totally dissimilar as to make mutual affection
incompatible; and that they were unfitted for each other
by nature, education, and habitAll this she had said, and with
the earnestness of sincerity; yet this was not enough, for he immediately
denied there being anything uncongenial in their characters,
or anything unfriendly in their situations; and positively declared,
that he would still love, and still hope!
Fanny knew her own meaning, but was no judge of her own manner
Her manner was incurably gentle; and she was not aware how
much it concealed the sternness of her purposeHer diffidence, gratitude,
and softness made every expression of indifference seem almost
an effort of self-denial; seem, at least, to be giving nearly as
much pain to herself as to himCrawford was no longer the
MrCrawford who, as the clandestine, insidious, treacherous admirer
of Maria Bertram, had been her abhorrence, whom she had
hated to see or to speak to, in whom she could believe no good
quality to exist, and whose power, even of being agreeable, she had
barely acknowledgedCrawford who was addressing
herself with ardent, disinterested love; whose feelings were
apparently become all that was honourable and upright, whose views
of happiness were all fixed on a marriage of attachment; who was
284
Mansfield Park
pouring out his sense of her merits, describing and describing again
his affection, proving as far as words could prove it, and in the language,
tone, and spirit of a man of talent too, that he sought her for
her gentleness and her goodness; and to complete the whole, he was
now the MrCrawford who had procured William?s promotion!
Here was a change, and here were claims which could not but
operate! She might have disdained him in all the dignity of angry
virtue, in the grounds of Sotherton, or the theatre at Mansfield Park;
but he approached her now with rights that demanded different
treatmentShe must be courteous, and she must be compassionate
She must have a sensation of being honoured, and whether thinking
of herself or her brother, she must have a strong feeling of gratitude
The effect of the whole was a manner so pitying and agitated,
and words intermingled with her refusal so expressive of obligation
and concern, that to a temper of vanity and hope like Crawford?s,
the truth, or at least the strength of her indifference, might well be
questionable; and he was not so irrational as Fanny considered him,
in the professions of persevering, assiduous, and not desponding
attachment which closed the interview
It was with reluctance that he suffered her to go; but there was no
look of despair in parting to belie his words, or give her hopes of his
being less unreasonable than he professed himselfSome resentment did arise at a perseverance
so selfish and ungenerousHere was again a want of delicacy and
regard for others which had formerly so struck and disgusted her
Here was again a something of the same
