Austen Said:

another day or two would suffice to wipe away every outward memento of what had been, even to the destruction of every unbound copy of Lovers' Vows in the house,

She could not, did not like him.

Advantageous as would be the alliance, and long standing and public as was the engagement, her happiness must not be sacrificed to it. Mr. Rushworth had, perhaps, been accepted on too short an acquaintance, and, on knowing him better, she was repenting.

to be open and sincere,

assured her that every inconvenience should be braved, and the connexion entirely given up, if she felt herself unhappy in the prospect of it. He would act for her and release her.

Mr. Rushworth was young enough to improve. Mr. Rushworth must and would improve in good society; and if Maria could now speak so securely of her happiness with him, speaking certainly without the prejudice, the blindness of love, she ought to be believed. Her feelings, probably, were not acute; he had never supposed them to be so; but her comforts might not be less on that account; and if she could dispense with seeing her husband a leading, shining character, there would certainly be everything else in her favour. A well-disposed young woman, who did not marry for love, was in general but the more attached to her own family; and the nearness of Sotherton to Mansfield must naturally hold out the greatest temptation, and would, in all probability, be a continual supply of the most amiable and innocent enjoyments.

to eat his mutton with him the next day;

Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing his niece—

any one in the habit of such idle observations would have thought that Mr. Crawford was the admirer of Fanny Price.

speculation.

to gratify anybody else who might wish to see Fanny dance, and to give pleasure to the young people in general;

with all necessary allowance for the shortness of the notice, to collect young people enough to form twelve or fourteen couple:

to fix on the 22nd as the most eligible day.

William was required to be at Portsmouth on the 24th; the 22nd would therefore be the last day of his visit; but where the days were so few it would be unwise to fix on any earlier.

His nephew's introduction to Admiral Crawford might be of service. The Admiral,

had interest.

education and manners she owed to him.

join the early breakfast party in that house instead of eating alone: he should himself be of it;

the suspicions whence, he must confess to himself, this very ball had in great measure sprung, were well founded.

Mr. Crawford was in love with Fanny.

advising her to go immediately to bed.

"Advise"

it best for each daughter that the permission should be granted,

if he might come in.

a little relenting, a little change of inclination, might have something to do with it; and to augur favourably from the personal entreaty of the young man himself.

her to be very timid, and exceedingly nervous; and

it not improbable that her mind might be in such a state as a little time, a little pressing, a little patience, and a little impatience, a judicious mixture of all on the lover's side, might work their usual effect on.

If the gentleman would but persevere,

As a general reflection on Fanny,

nothing could be more unjust,

At Mansfield Park Mr. Crawford would always be welcome; he had only to consult his own judgment and feelings as to the frequency of his visits, at present or in future. In all his niece's family and friends, there could be but one opinion, one wish on the subject; the influence of all who loved her must incline one way.

to abstain from all farther importunity with his niece, and to shew no open interference

Upon her disposition

kindness might be the best way of working. Entreaty should be from one quarter only. The forbearance of her family on a point, respecting which she could be in no doubt of their wishes, might be their surest means of forwarding it.

the necessity of making his own wife and sister-in-law acquainted with the business without delay; though, on Fanny's account, he almost dreaded the effect of the communication to Mrs. Norris as much as Fanny herself. He deprecated her mistaken but well-meaning zeal.

for the strictest forbearance and silence towards their niece;

to stay dinner;

it might be as well to make one more effort for the young man before he left Mansfield, that all his professions and vows of unshaken attachment might have as much hope to sustain them as possible.

her being at that very time walking alone in the shrubbery,

it should be so.

Edmund's account of Fanny's disposition

to be just;

she had all those feelings, but

it as very unfortunate that she had; for,

he could not help fearing that if such very long allowances of time and habit were necessary for her, she might not have persuaded herself into receiving his addresses properly before the young man's inclination for paying them were over. There was nothing to be done, however, but to submit quietly and hope the best.

She had tasted of consequence in its most flattering form; and he did hope that the loss of it, the sinking again into nothing, would awaken very wholesome regrets in her mind.

how she stood affected on the present occasion, and whether she were more or less happy than she had been.

she should accompany her brother back to Portsmouth, and spend a little time with her own family.

a right and desirable measure;

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.