Austen Said:

But her uncle's anger gave her the severest pain of all.

She could not but feel some resentment against Mr. Crawford;

In about a quarter of an hour her uncle returned; she was almost ready to faint at the sight of him. He spoke calmly, however, without austerity, without reproach, and she revived a little. There was comfort, too, in his words, as well as his manner, for he began with,

Here Fanny, who had looked up, looked down again.

continued her uncle,

(turning back again for a moment),

This was an order to be most joyfully obeyed;

this was an act of kindness which Fanny felt at her heart.

he left her in a glow of gratitude.

She walked out directly, as her uncle recommended, and followed his advice throughout, as far as she could; did check her tears; did earnestly try to compose her spirits and strengthen her mind.

She wished

and he had given her another strong motive for exertion, in keeping the whole affair from the knowledge of her aunts.

She was struck, quite struck, when, on returning from her walk and going into the East room again, the first thing which caught her eye was a fire lighted and burning.

just at that time to be giving her such an indulgence was exciting even painful gratitude.

She wondered that

but she soon found, from the voluntary information of

the housemaid,

who came in to attend it,

that

said she, in soliloquy.

She saw nothing more of her uncle, nor of her aunt Norris, till they met at dinner. Her uncle's behaviour to her was then as nearly as possible what it had been before;

she was sure

that

but her aunt was soon quarrelling with her; and when she found how much and how unpleasantly her having only walked out without her aunt's knowledge could be dwelt on,

she felt

said she,

said Sir Thomas.

said Mrs. Norris, with a moment's check,

Sir Thomas thought

though he had been so lately expressing the same sentiments himself, and he tried to turn the conversation: tried repeatedly before he could succeed; for Mrs. Norris had not discernment enough to perceive, either now, or at any other time, to what degree he thought well of his niece, or how very far he was from wishing to have his own children's merits set off by the depreciation of hers. She was talking at Fanny, and resenting this private walk half through the dinner.

It was over, however, at last; and the evening set in with more composure to Fanny, and more cheerfulness of spirits than she could have hoped for after so stormy a morning; but

she trusted,

in the first place, that

that

and

she was willing to hope,

secondly,

that

that

While Fanny's mind was engaged in these sort of hopes, her uncle was, soon after tea, called out of the room; an occurrence too common to strike her, and she thought nothing of it till the butler reappeared ten minutes afterwards, and advancing decidedly towards herself, said,

Then it occurred to her what might be going on; a suspicion rushed over her mind which drove the colour from her cheeks; but instantly rising, she was preparing to obey, when Mrs. Norris called out,

(looking at the butler);

But Baddeley was stout.

And there was a half-smile with the words, which meant,

Mrs. Norris, much discontented, was obliged to compose herself to work again; and Fanny, walking off in agitating consciousness, found herself, as she anticipated, in another minute alone with Mr. Crawford.

The conference was neither so short nor so conclusive as the lady had designed. The gentleman was not so easily satisfied. He had all the disposition to persevere that Sir Thomas could wish him.

He

had vanity, which strongly inclined him in the first place

to think

and which, secondly, when constrained at last to admit that she did know her own present feelings,