How she had looked before, Fanny could not recollect,
for she had been dancing with Edmund herself, and had not thought
about herNorris continued, ?It is quite delightful, ma?am, to see young
people so properly happy, so well suited, and so much the thing! I
cannot but think of dear Sir Thomas?s delightAnd what do you
say, ma?am, to the chance of another match? MrRushworth has set
a good example, and such things are very catchingRushworth, who saw nothing but her son, was quite at a
loss
?The couple above, ma?amDo you see no symptoms there??
?Oh dear! Miss Julia and MrYes, indeed, a very pretty
matchWhat is his property??
?Four thousand a yearThose who have not more must be satisfied with what
they haveFour thousand a year is a pretty estate, and he seems a
very genteel, steady young man, so I hope Miss Julia will be very
happy
?It is not a settled thing, ma?am, yetWe only speak of it among
friendsBut I have very little doubt it will beHe is growing extremely
particular in his attentions
105
Jane Austen
Fanny could listen no fartherListening and wondering were all
suspended for a time, for MrBertram was in the room again; http://www.muluxury.com/search_0_0_0_balenciaga yellow_1.html" target="_blank and
though feeling it would be a great honour to be asked by him, she
thought it must happenHe came towards their little circle; but
instead of asking her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her
an account of the present state of a sick horse, and the opinion of
the groom, from whom he had just partedFanny found that it was
not to be, and in the modesty of her nature immediately felt that
she had been unreasonable in expecting itWhen he had told of his
horse, he took a newspaper from the table, and looking over it, said
in a languid way, ?If you want to dance, Fanny, I will stand up with
you With more than equal civility the offer was declined; she did
not wish to dance?I am glad of it,? said he, in a much brisker tone,
and throwing down the newspaper again, ?for I am tired to deathI
only wonder how the good people can keep it up so longThey had
need be all in love, to find any amusement in such folly; and so they
are, I fancyIf you look at them you may see they are so many
couple of lovers?all but Yates and MrsGrant?and, between ourselves,
she, poor woman, must want a lover as much as any one of
themA desperate dull life hers must be with http://www.muluxury.com/categorys_105_Chanel-Earrings_1.html" target="_blank the doctor,? making a
sly face as he spoke towards the chair of the latter, who proving,
however, to be close at his elbow, made so instantaneous a change of
expression and subject necessary, as Fanny, in spite of everything,
could hardly help laughing at?A strange business this in America,
DrGrant! What is your opinion? I always come to you to know
what I am to think of public matters
?My dear Tom,? cried his aunt soon afterwards, ?as you are not
dancing, I dare say you will have no objection to join us in a rubber;
shall you?? Then leaving her seat, and coming to him to enforce the
proposal, added in a whisper, ?We want to make a table for MrsYour mother is quite anxious about it, but
cannot very well spare time to sit down herself, because of her fringe
Now, you and I and DrGrant will just do; and though we play but
half-crowns, you know, you may bet half-guineas with him
?I should be most happy,? replied he aloud, and jumping up with
alacrity, ?it would give me the greatest pleasure; but that I am this
moment going to dance Come, Fanny, taking her hand, ?do not
106
Mansfield Park
be dawdling any longer, or the dance will be http://www.muluxury.com/scategory_7_Gucci.html" target="_blank over
Fanny was led off very willingly, though it was impossible for her
to feel much gratitude towards her cousin, or distinguish, as he certainly
did, between the selfishness of another person and his own
?A pretty modest request upon my word,? he indignantly exclaimed
as they walked away?To want to nail me to a card-table for the next
two hours with herself and DrGrant, who are always quarrelling,
and that poking old woman, who knows no more of whist than of
algebraI wish my good aunt would be a little less busy! And to ask
me in such a way too! without ceremony, before them all, so as to
leave me no possibility of refusingThat is what I dislike most particularly
It raises my spleen more than anything, to have the pretence
of being asked, of being given a choice, and at the same time addressed
in such a way as to oblige one to do the very thing, whatever
it be! If I had not luckily thought of standing up with you I could not
have got out of itIt is a great deal too badBut when my aunt has got
a fancy in her head, nothing can stop her
107
Jane Austen
CHAPTER XIII
THE HONOURABLE JOHN YATES, this new friend, had not much to
recommend him http://www.muluxury.com/scategory_30_Cartier-Watches.html" target="_blank beyond habits of fashion and expense, and being
the younger son of a lord with a tolerable independence; and Sir
Thomas would probably have thought his introduction at Mansfield
by no means desirableBertram?s acquaintance with him had
begun at Weymouth, where they had spent ten days together in the
same society, and the friendship, if friendship it might be called,
had been proved and perfected by MrYates?s being invited to take
Mansfield in his way, whenever he could, and by his promising to
come; and he did come rather earlier than had been expected, in
consequence of the sudden breaking-up of a large party assembled
for gaiety at the house of another friend, which he had left Weymouth
to joinHe came on the wings of disappointment, and with his
head full of acting, for it had been a theatrical party; and the play in
which he had borne a part was within two days of representation,
when the sudden death of one of the nearest connexions of the
family had destroyed the scheme and dispersed the performersTo
be so near happiness, so near fame, so near the long paragraph in
praise of the private theatricals at Ecclesford, the seat of the http://www.muluxury.com/scategory_25_Gucci-Watches.html" target="_blank Right