Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

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"But how may it rise? How may my honesty at least rise to any distinction?"
"That is not much to the purpose now; and as to my being in parliament, I believe I must wait till there is an especial assembly for the representation of younger sons who have little to live on. No, Miss Crawford,"
"there are distinctions which I should be miserable if I thought myself without any chance— absolutely without chance or possibility of obtaining —but they are of a different character."
his mother had been inquiring for her,
he had walked down to the Parsonage on purpose to bring her back.
the invitation should be accepted;
so particularly desirable for her in the intimacy which he saw with so much pleasure established,
"If you put such a question to her,"
"Fanny will immediately say No; but I am sure, my dear mother, she would like to go; and I can see no reason why she should not."
"But my mother will have my father with her all the evening."
"Suppose you take my father's opinion, ma'am."
"As you please, ma'am, on that head; but I meant my father's opinion as to the propriety of the invitation's being accepted or not; and I think he will consider it a right thing by Mrs. Grant, as well as by Fanny, that being the first invitation it should be accepted."
"But is it not very natural,"
"that Mrs. Grant should wish to procure so agreeable a visitor for her sister?"
"Well, Fanny, it is all happily settled, and without the smallest hesitation on your uncle's side. He had but one opinion. You are to go."
"Now I must look at you, Fanny,"
"and tell you how I like you; and as well as I can judge by this light, you look very nicely indeed. What have you got on?"
"A woman can never be too fine while she is all in white. No, I see no finery about you; nothing but what is perfectly proper. Your gown seems very pretty. I like these glossy spots. Has not Miss Crawford a gown something the same?"
"Heyday!"
"here's company, here's a carriage! who have they got to meet us?"
"'Tis Crawford's, Crawford's barouche, I protest! There are his own two men pushing it back into its old quarters. He is here, of course. This is quite a surprise, Fanny. I shall be very glad to see him."
"I shall keep clear of you, Crawford, as long as I can,"
"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."
as to his plans for the next day's hunting;
"It sounds like it,"
"but which way did you turn after passing Sewell's farm?"
"You inquired, then?"
"You have a good memory. I had forgotten having ever told you half so much of the place."
"Well,"
"and how did you like what you saw?"
"No, no, not so bad as that. The farmyard must be moved, I grant you; but I am not aware of anything else. The house is by no means bad, and when the yard is removed, there may be a very tolerable approach to it."
"And I have two or three ideas also,"
"and one of them is, that very little of your plan for Thornton Lacey will ever be put in practice. I must be satisfied with rather less ornament and beauty. I think the house and premises may be made comfortable, and given the air of a gentleman's residence, without any very heavy expense, and that must suffice me; and, I hope, may suffice all who care about me."
"And Fanny had much rather it were William's,"
"Poor Fanny! not allowed to cheat herself as she wishes!"
"Certainly, sir, I have no idea but of residence. But, Crawford, though I refuse you as a tenant, come to me as a friend. Consider the house as half your own every winter, and we will add to the stables on your own improved plan, and with all the improvements of your improved plan that may occur to you this spring."
"Sir Thomas,"
"undoubtedly understands the duty of a parish priest. We must hope his son may prove that he knows it too."
His father had never conferred a favour or shewn a kindness more to his satisfaction.
Half his destiny would then be determined, but the other half might not be so very smoothly wooed. His duties would be established, but the wife who was to share, and animate, and reward those duties, might yet be unattainable.
There were points on which they did not quite agree; there were moments in which she did not seem propitious; and though trusting altogether to her affection, so far as to be resolved— almost resolved —on bringing it to a decision within a very short time, as soon as the variety of business before him were arranged, and he knew what he had to offer her,
her acknowledged disinclination for privacy and retirement, her decided preference of a London life,
what could he expect but a determined rejection?
unless it were an acceptance even more to be deprecated, demanding such sacrifices of situation and employment on his side as conscience must forbid.
The issue of all depended on one question. Did she love him well enough to forego what had used to be essential points? Did she love him well enough to make them no longer essential?
"Yes,"
"No."
her eyes sparkle as
But this had occurred on the first day of its being settled, within the first hour of the burst of such enjoyment, when nothing but the friends she was to visit was before her.
He had since heard her express herself differently, with other feelings, more chequered feelings:

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