@@@@@On his side the inclination was stronger, on
hers less equivocalHis objections, the scruples of his integrity,
seemed all done away, nobody could tell how; and the doubts and
hesitations of her ambition were equally got over?and equally without
apparent reasonIt could only be imputed to increasing attachment
His good and her bad feelings yielded to love, and such love
must unite themHe was to go to town as soon as some business
relative to Thornton Lacey were completed?perhaps within a fortnight;
he talked of going, he loved to talk of it; and when once with
her again, Fanny could not doubt the restHer acceptance must be
as certain as his offer; and yet there were bad feelings still remaining
which made the prospect of it most sorrowful to her, independently,
she believed, independently of self
In their very last conversation, Miss Crawford, in spite of some
amiable sensations, and much personal kindness, had still been Miss
Crawford; still shewn a mind led astray and bewildered, and without
any suspicion of being so; darkened, yet fancying itself lightShe might
love, but she did not deserve Edmund by any other sentimentFanny
believed there was scarcely a second feeling in common between them;
and she may be forgiven by older sages for looking on the chance of
Miss Crawford?s future improvement as nearly desperate, for thinking
that if Edmund?s influence in this season of love had already done
so little in clearing her judgment, and regulating her notions, his worth
would be finally wasted on her even in years of matrimony
Experience might have hoped more for any young people so circumstanced,
and impartiality would not have denied to Miss
Crawford?s nature that participation of the general nature of women
which would lead her to adopt the opinions of the man she loved
and respected as her ownBut as such were Fanny?s persuasions, she
suffered very much from them, and could never speak of Miss
Crawford without pain
Sir Thomas, meanwhile, went on with his own hopes and his own
observations, still feeling a right, by all his knowledge of human
nature, to expect to see the effect of the loss of power and consequence
on his niece?s spirits, and the past attentions of the lover
producing a craving for their return; and he was soon afterwards
able to account for his not yet completely and indubitably seeing all
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Mansfield Park
this, by the prospect of another visitor, whose approach he could
allow to be quite enough to support the spirits he was watching
William had obtained a ten days? leave of absence, to be given to
Northamptonshire, and was coming, the happiest of lieutenants,
because the latest made, to shew his happiness and describe his uniform
He came; and he would have been delighted to shew his uniform
there too, had not cruel custom prohibited its appearance except on
dutySo the uniform remained at Portsmouth, and Edmund conjectured
that before Fanny had any chance of seeing it, all its own freshness
and all the freshness of its wearer?s feelings must be worn awayIt
would be sunk into a badge of disgrace; for what can be more unbecoming,
or more worthless, than the uniform of a lieutenant, who
has been a lieutenant a year or two, and sees others made commanders
before him? So reasoned Edmund, till his father made him the
confidant of a scheme which placed Fanny?s chance of seeing the second
lieutenant of HThrush in all his glory in another light
This scheme was that she should accompany her brother back to
Portsmouth, and spend a little time with her own familyIt had
occurred to Sir Thomas, in one of his dignified musings, as a right
and desirable measure; but before he absolutely made up his mind,
he consulted his sonEdmund considered it every way, and saw
nothing but what was rightThe thing was good in itself, and could
not be done at a better time; and he had no doubt of it being highly
agreeable to FannyThis was enough to determine Sir Thomas; and
a decisive ?then so it shall be? closed that stage of the business; Sir
Thomas retiring from it with some feelings of satisfaction, and views
of good over and above what he had communicated to his son; for
his prime motive in sending her away had very little to do with the
propriety of her seeing her parents again, and nothing at all with
any idea of making her happyHe certainly wished her to go willingly,
but he as certainly wished her to be heartily sick of home
before her visit ended; and that a little abstinence from the elegancies
and luxuries of Mansfield Park would bring her mind into a
sober state, and incline her to a juster estimate of the value of that
home of greater permanence, and equal comfort, of which she had
the offer
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Jane Austen
It was a medicinal project upon his niece?s understanding, which
he must consider as at present diseasedA residence of eight or nine
years in the abode of wealth and plenty had a little disordered her
powers of comparing and judgi
