adam0405khalaf's Journal

@@@@@Grant that she should leave her
@@@@@Grant that she should leave her with
regret; that she began to believe neither the friends nor the pleasures
she was going to were worth those she left behind; and that though
she felt she must go, and knew she should enjoy herself when once
away, she was already looking forward to being at Mansfield again
Was there not a “yes” in all this?
With such matters to ponder over, and arrange, and re-arrange,
Edmund could not, on his own account, think very much of the
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Mansfield Park
evening which the rest of the family were looking forward to with a
more equal degree of strong interestIndependent of his two cousins’
enjoyment in it, the evening was to him of no higher value than
any other appointed meeting of the two families might beIn every
meeting there was a hope of receiving farther confirmation of Miss
Crawford’s attachment; but the whirl of a ballroom, perhaps, was
not particularly favourable to the excitement or expression of serious
feelingsTo engage her early for the two first dances was all the
command of individual happiness which he felt in his power, and
the only preparation for the ball which he could enter into, in spite
of all that was passing around him on the subject, from morning till
night
Thursday was the day of the ball; and on Wednesday morning
Fanny, still unable to satisfy herself as to what she ought to wear,
determined to seek the counsel of the more enlightened, and apply
to MrsGrant and her sister, whose acknowledged taste would certainly
bear her blameless; and as Edmund and William were gone
to Northampton, and she had reason to think MrCrawford likewise
out, she walked down to the Parsonage without much fear of
wanting an opportunity for private discussion; and the privacy of
such a discussion was a most important part of it to Fanny, being
more than half-ashamed of her own solicitude
She met Miss Crawford within a few yards of the Parsonage, just
setting out to call on her, and as it seemed to her that her friend,
though obliged to insist on turning back, was unwilling to lose her
walk, she explained her business at once, and observed, that if she
would be so kind as to give her opinion, it might be all talked over
as well without doors as withinMiss Crawford appeared gratified
by the application, and after a moment’s thought, urged Fanny’s
returning with her in a much more cordial manner than before, and
proposed their going up into her room, where they might have a
comfortable coze, without disturbing DrGrant, who were
together in the drawing-roomIt was just the plan to suit Fanny;
and with a great deal of gratitude on her side for such ready and
kind attention, they proceeded indoors, and upstairs, and were soon
deep in the interesting subjectMiss Crawford, pleased with the
appeal, gave her all her best judgment and taste, made everything
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Jane Austen
easy by her suggestions, and tried to make everything agreeable by
her encouragementThe dress being settled in all its grander parts—
”But what shall you have by way of necklace?” said Miss Crawford
“Shall not you wear your brother’s cross?” And as she spoke she was
undoing a small parcel, which Fanny had observed in her hand when
they metFanny acknowledged her wishes and doubts on this point:
she did not know how either to wear the cross, or to refrain from
wearing itShe was answered by having a small trinket-box placed
before her, and being requested to chuse from among several gold
chains and necklacesSuch had been the parcel with which Miss
Crawford was provided, and such the object of her intended visit:
and in the kindest manner she now urged Fanny’s taking one for the
cross and to keep for her sake, saying everything she could think of to
obviate the scruples which were making Fanny start back at first with
a look of horror at the proposal
“You see what a collection I have,” said she; “more by half than I
ever use or think ofI do not offer them as newI offer nothing but
an old necklaceYou must forgive the liberty, and oblige me
Fanny still resisted, and from her heartThe gift was too valuable
But Miss Crawford persevered, and argued the case with so much
affectionate earnestness through all the heads of William and the
cross, and the ball, and herself, as to be finally success