Austen Said:

Miss Crawford, untouched and inattentive, had nothing to say; and Fanny, perceiving it, brought back her own mind to what she thought must interest.

replied Miss Crawford carelessly,

said Fanny, in reply.

replied Miss Crawford,

and her eyes brightened as she spoke,

with a more thoughtful air and lowered voice,

Fanny's heart beat quick, and she felt quite unequal to surmising or soliciting anything more. Miss Crawford, however, with renewed animation, soon went on—

was all that Fanny attempted to say.

Fanny was silent, and Miss Crawford relapsed into thoughtfulness, till suddenly looking up at the end of a few minutes, she exclaimed,

It was not Mr. Rushworth, however, but Edmund, who then appeared walking towards them with Mrs. Grant.

cried Fanny.

Edmund met them with particular pleasure. It was the first time of his seeing them together since the beginning of that better acquaintance which he had been hearing of with great satisfaction. A friendship between two so very dear to him was exactly what he could have wished: and to the credit of the lover's understanding, be it stated, that he did not by any means consider Fanny as the only, or even as the greater gainer by such a friendship.

said Miss Crawford,

said Edmund,

cried Mrs. Grant,

added Edmund,

cried Miss Crawford,

said Miss Crawford archly.

said Edmund, with a look which, to Fanny's eye, had a great deal of serious meaning.

This was not so very easy a question to answer, and occasioned an

of some length from the fair lady before she could add,

he added, in a more serious tone,

A look of consciousness as he spoke, and what seemed a consciousness of manner on Miss Crawford's side as she made some laughing answer, was sorrowfull food for Fanny's observation; and finding herself quite unable to attend as she ought to Mrs. Grant, by whose side she was now following the others, she had nearly resolved on going home immediately, and only waited for courage to say so, when the sound of the great clock at Mansfield Park, striking three, made her feel that she had really been much longer absent than usual, and brought the previous self-inquiry of whether she should take leave or not just then, and how, to a very speedy issue. With undoubting decision she directly began her adieus; and

Edmund began at the same time to recollect that

and

that

Fanny's hurry increased; and without in the least expecting Edmund's attendance, she would have hastened away alone; but the general pace was quickened, and they all accompanied her into the house, through which it was necessary to pass. Dr. Grant was in the vestibule, and as they stopt to speak to him

she found,

from Edmund's manner,

that

She could not but be thankful. In the moment of parting,

Edmund was invited by Dr. Grant

and Fanny had barely time for an unpleasant feeling on the occasion, when

Mrs. Grant,

with sudden recollection, turned to her and

asked for

This was so new an attention, so perfectly new a circumstance in the events of Fanny's life, that she was all surprise and embarrassment; and while stammering out her great obligation, and her

was looking at Edmund for his opinion and help. But Edmund, delighted with her having such an happiness offered, and ascertaining with half a look, and half a sentence, that she had no objection but on her aunt's account, could not imagine that his mother would make any difficulty of sparing her, and therefore

gave his decided open advice that

and though Fanny would not venture, even on his encouragement, to such a flight of audacious independence, it was soon settled, that if nothing were heard to the contrary, Mrs. Grant might expect her.

said Mrs. Grant, smiling——

turning to her husband,

cried Dr. Grant,

The two cousins walked home together; and, except in the immediate discussion of this engagement, which

Edmund spoke of

with the warmest satisfaction,

as

it was a silent walk; for having finished that subject, he grew thoughtful and indisposed for any other.

said Lady Bertram.

cried Edmund, preventing his cousin's speaking,