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Crawford?s character in that pointHe wished him to be a model of
constancy; and fancied the best means of effecting it would be by not
trying him too long
Edmund was not unwilling to be persuaded to engage in the business;
he wanted to know Fanny?s feelingsShe had been used to
consult him in every difficulty, and he loved her too well to bear to
be denied her confidence now; he hoped to be of service to her, he
thought he must be of service to her; whom else had she to open her
heart to? If she did not need counsel, she must need the comfort of
communicationFanny estranged from him, silent and reserved,
was an unnatural state of things; a state which he must break through,
and which he could easily learn to think she was wanting him to
break through
?I will speak to her, sir: I will take the first opportunity of speaking
to her alone,? was the result of such thoughts as these; and upon
Sir Thomas?s information of her being at that very time walking
alone in the shrubbery, he instantly joined her
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Mansfield Park
?I am come to walk with you, Fanny,? said he?Shall I?? Drawing
her arm within his?It is a long while since we have had a comfortable
walk together
She assented to it all rather by look than wordHer spirits were
low
?But, Fanny,? he presently added, ?in order to have a comfortable
walk, something more is necessary than merely pacing this gravel
togetherI know you have something on your
mindI know what you are thinking ofYou cannot suppose me
uninformedAm I to hear of it from everybody but Fanny herself??
Fanny, at once agitated and dejected, replied, ?If you hear of it
from everybody, cousin, there can be nothing for me to tell
?Not of facts, perhaps; but of feelings, FannyNo one but you can
tell me themI do not mean to press you, howeverIf it is not what
you wish yourself, I have doneI had thought it might be a relief
?I am afraid we think too differently for me to find any relief in
talking of what I feel
?Do you suppose that we think differently? I have no idea of itI
dare say that, on a comparison of our opinions, they would be found
as much alike as they have been used to be: to the point?I consider
Crawford?s proposals as most advantageous and desirable, if you
could return his affectionI consider it as most natural that all your
family should wish you could return it; but that, as you cannot, you
have done exactly as you ought in refusing
