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farther pause, proceeded in his account of Mr. Crawford's visit.
Mr. Crawford's business had been to declare himself the lover of Fanny, make decided proposals for
her, and entreat the sanction of the uncle, who seemed to stand in the place of her parents; and he had
done it all so well, so openly, so liberally, so properly, that Sir Thomas, feeling, moreover, his own
replies, and his own remarks to have been very much to the purpose was exceedingly happy to give the
particulars of their conversation and, little aware of what was passing in his niece's mind, conceived that
by such details he must be gratifying her far more than himself. He talked therefore for several minutes
without Fanny's daring to interrupt him. She had hardly even attained the wish to do it. Her mind was in
too much confusion. She had changed her position, and with her eyes fixed intently on one of the
windows, was listening to her uncle, in the utmost perturbation and dismay. For a moment he ceased,
but she had hardly become conscious of it, when, rising from his chair, he said, "And now, Fanny, having
performed one part of my commission, and shown you everything placed on a basis the most assured
and satisfactory, I may execute the remainder by prevailing on you to accompany me downstairs,
where though I cannot but presume on having been no unacceptable companion myself, I must submit
to your finding one still better worth listening to. Mr. Crawford, as you have perhaps foreseen, is yet in
the house. He is in my room, and hoping to see you there."
There was a look, a start, an exclamation, on hearing this, which astonished Sir Thomas; but what was
his increase of astonishment on hearing her exclaim "Oh! no, Sir, I cannot, indeed I cannot go down to
him. Mr. Crawford ought to know he must know that I told him enough yesterday to convince
him he spoke to me on this subject yesterday and I told him without disguise that it was very
disagreeable to me, and quite out of my power to return his good opinion."
"I do not catch your meaning," said Sir Thomas, sitting down again. "Out of your power to return his
good opinion! what is all this? I know he spoke to you yesterday, and (as far as I understand), received
as much encouragement to proceed as a well-judging young woman could permit herself to give. I was
very much pleased with what I collected to have been your behavior on the occasion; it showed a
discretion highly to be commended. But now, when he has made his overtures properly, and
honorably what are your scruples now ?"
"You are mistaken, Sir," cried Fanny, forced by the anxiety of the moment even to tell her uncle that he
was wrong "You are quite mistaken. How could Mr. Crawford say such a thing? I gave him no
encouragement yesterday On the contrary, I told him I cannot recollect my exact words but I am
sure I told him that I would not listen to him, that it was very unpleasant to me in every respect, and that I
begged him never to talk to me in that manner again. I am sure I said as much as that and more; and I
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should have said still more, if I had been quite certain of his meaning anything seriously, but I did not
like to be I could not bear to be imputing more than might be intended. I thought it might all pass for
nothing with him ."
She could say no more; her breath was almost gone.
"Am I to understand," said Sir Thomas, after a few moments silence, "that you mean to refuse Mr.
Crawford?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Refuse him?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Refuse Mr. Crawford! Upon what plea? For what reason?"
"I I cannot like him, Sir, well enough to marry him."
"This is very strange!" said Sir Thomas, in a voice of calm displeasure. "There is something in this which
my comprehension does not reach. Here is a young man wishing to pay his addresses to you, with
everything to recommend him; not merely situation in life, fortune, and character, but with more than
common agreeableness, with address and conversation pleasing to everybody. And he is not an
acquaintance of today, you have now known him some time. His sister, moreover, is your intimate friend,
and he has been doing that for your brother, which I should suppose would have been almost sufficient
recommendation to you, had there been no other. It is very uncertain when my interest might have got
William on. He has done it already."
"Yes," said Fanny, in a faint voice, and looking down with fresh shame; and she did feel almost ashamed
of herself, after such a picture as her uncle had drawn, for not liking Mr. Crawford.
"You must have been aware," continued Sir Thomas, presently, "you must have been some time aware
of a particularity in Mr. Crawford's manners to you. This cannot have taken you by surprise. You must
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