vicks0211farr

@@@@@ ?Bertram,? said Henry Crawford, ?I shall make a point of coming to Mansfield to hear you preach your first sermonI shall come on 197 Jane Austen purpose to encourage a young beginnerWhen is it to be? Miss Price, will not you join me in encouraging your cousin? Will not you engage to attend with your eyes steadily fixed on him the whole time?as I shall do?not to lose a word; or only looking off just to note down any sentence preeminently beautiful? We will provide ourselves with tablets and a pencilWhen will it be? You must preach at Mansfield, you know, that Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram may hear you ?I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can,? said Edmund; ?for you would be more likely to disconcert me, and I should be more sorry to see you trying at it than almost any other man ?Will he not feel this?? thought Fanny?No, he can feel nothing as he ought The party being now all united, and the chief talkers attracting each other, she remained in tranquillity; and as a whist-table was formed after tea?formed really for the amusement of DrGrant, by his attentive wife, though it was not to be supposed so?and Miss Crawford took her harp, she had nothing to do but to listen; and her tranquillity remained undisturbed the rest of the evening, except when MrCrawford now and then addressed to her a question or observation, which she could not avoid answeringMiss Crawford was too much vexed by what had passed to be in a humour for anything but musicWith that she soothed herself and amused her friend The assurance of Edmund?s being so soon to take orders, coming upon her like a blow that had been suspended, and still hoped uncertain and at a distance, was felt with resentment and mortification She was very angry with himShe had thought her influence moreShe had begun to think of him; she felt that she had, with great regard, with almost decided intentions; but she would now meet him with his own cool feelingsIt was plain that he could have no serious views, no true attachment, by fixing himself in a situation which he must know she would never stoop toShe would learn to match him in his indifferenceShe would henceforth admit his attentions without any idea beyond immediate amusementIf he could so command his affections, hers should do her no harm 198 Mansfield Park CHAPTER XXIV HENRY CRAWFORD had quite made up his mind by the next morning to give another fortnight to Mansfield, and having sent for his hunters, and written a few lines of explanation to the Admiral, he looked round at his sister as he sealed and threw the letter from him, and seeing the coast clear of the rest of the family, said, with a smile, ?And how do you think I mean to amuse myself, Mary, on the days that I do not hunt? I am grown too old to go out more than three times a week; but I have a plan for the intermediate days, and what do you think it is?? ?To walk and ride with me, to be sure ?Not exactly, though I shall be happy to do both, but that would be exercise only to my body, and I must take care of my mind Besides, that would be all recreation and indulgence, without the wholesome alloy of labour, and I do not like to eat the bread of idlenessNo, my plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me ?Fanny Price! Nonsense! No,