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1"I was just going to say the very same thing," said Mrs. Norris. "If every play is to be objected to, you will act
2nothing, and the preparations will be all so much money thrown away, and I am sure that would be a discredit to us all.
3I do not know the play; but, as Maria says, if there is anything a little too warm (and it is so with most of them) it
4can be easily left out. We must not be over-precise, Edmund. As Mr. Rushworth is to act too, there can be no harm. I
5only wish Tom had known his own mind when the carpenters began, for there was the loss of half a day's work about those
6side-doors. The curtain will be a good job, however. The maids do their work very well, and I think we shall be able to
7send back some dozens of the rings. There is no occasion to put them so very close together. I am of some use, I hope,
8in preventing waste and making the most of things. There should always be one steady head to superintend so many young
9ones. I forgot to tell Tom of something that happened to me this very day. I had been looking about me in the
10poultry-yard, and was just coming out, when who should I see but Dick Jackson making up to the servants' hall-door with
11two bits of deal board in his hand, bringing them to father, you may be sure; mother had chanced to send him of a
12message to father, and then father had bid him bring up them two bits of board, for he could not no how do without them.
13I knew what all this meant, for the servants' dinner-bell was ringing at the very moment over our heads; and as I hate
14such encroaching people (the Jacksons are very encroaching, I have always said so: just the sort of people to get all
15they can), I said to the boy directly (a great lubberly fellow of ten years old, you know, who ought to be ashamed of
16himself), 'I'll take the boards to your father, Dick, so get you home again as fast as you can.' The boy looked very
17silly, and turned away without offering a word, for I believe I might speak pretty sharp; and I dare say it will cure
18him of coming marauding about the house for one while. I hate such greediness--so good as your father is to the family,
19employing the man all the year round!" Nobody was at the trouble of an answer; the others soon returned; and Edmund
20found that to have endeavoured to set them right must be his only satisfaction. Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris
21related again her triumph over Dick Jackson, but neither play nor preparation were otherwise much talked of, for
22Edmund's disapprobation was felt even by his brother, though he would not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford's
23animating support, thought the subject better avoided. Mr. Yates, who was trying to make himself agreeable to Julia,
24found her gloom less impenetrable on any topic than that of his regret at her secession from their company; and Mr.
25Rushworth, having only his own part and his own dress in his head, had soon talked away all that could be said of
26either. But the concerns of the theatre were suspended only for an hour or two: there was still a great deal to be
27settled; and the spirits of evening giving fresh courage, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates, soon after their being reassembled
28in the drawing-room, seated themselves in committee at a separate table, with the play open before them, and were just
29getting deep in the subject when a most welcome interruption was given by the entrance of Mr. and Miss Crawford, who,
30late and dark and dirty as it was, could not help coming, and were received with the most grateful joy. "Well, how do
31you go on?" and "What have you settled?" and "Oh! we can do nothing without you," followed the first salutations; and
32Henry Crawford was soon seated with the other three at the table, while his sister made her way to Lady Bertram, and
33with pleasant attention was complimenting her. "I must really congratulate your ladyship," said she, "on the play being
34chosen; for though you have borne it with exemplary patience, I am sure you must be sick of all our noise and
35difficulties. The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be infinitely more thankful for a decision; and I do
36sincerely give you joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris, and everybody else who is in the same predicament," glancing half
37fearfully, half slyly, beyond Fanny to Edmund. She was very civilly answered by Lady Bertram, but Edmund said nothing.
38His being only a bystander was not disclaimed. After continuing in chat with the party round the fire a few minutes,
39Miss Crawford returned to the party round the table; and standing by them, seemed to interest herself in their
40arrangements till, as if struck by a sudden recollection, she exclaimed, "My good friends, you are most composedly at
41work upon these cottages and alehouses, inside and out; but pray let me know my fate in the meanwhile. Who is to be
42Anhalt? What gentleman among you am I to have the pleasure of making love to?" For a moment no one spoke; and then many
43spoke together to tell the same melancholy truth, that they had not yet got any Anhalt. "Mr. Rushworth was to be Count
44Cassel, but no one had yet undertaken Anhalt." "I had my choice of the parts," said Mr. Rushworth; "but I thought I
45should like the Count best, though I do not much relish the finery I am to have." "You chose very wisely, I am sure,"
46replied Miss Crawford, with a brightened look; "Anhalt is a heavy part." "The Count has two-and-forty speeches,"
47returned Mr. Rushworth, "which is no trifle." "I am not at all surprised," said Miss Crawford, after a short pause, "at
48this want of an Anhalt. Amelia deserves no better. Such a forward young lady may well frighten the men." "I should be
49but too happy in taking the part, if it were possible," cried Tom; "but, unluckily, the Butler and Anhalt are in
50together. I will not entirely give it up, however; I will try what can be done--I will look it over again." "Your
51brother should take the part," said Mr. Yates, in a low voice. "Do not you think he would?" "I shall not ask him,"
52replied Tom, in a cold, determined manner. Miss Crawford talked of something else, and soon afterwards rejoined the
53party at the fire. "They do not want me at all," said she, seating herself. "I only puzzle them, and oblige them to make
54civil speeches. Mr. Edmund Bertram, as you do not act yourself, you will be a disinterested adviser; and, therefore, I
55apply to you. What shall we do for an Anhalt? Is it practicable for any of the others to double it? What is your
56advice?" "My advice," said he calmly, "is that you change the play." "I should have no objection," she replied; "for
57though I should not particularly dislike the part of Amelia if well supported, that is, if everything went well, I shall
58be sorry to be an inconvenience; but as they do not chuse to hear your advice at that table" (looking round), "it
59certainly will not be taken." Edmund said no more. "If any part could tempt you to act, I suppose it would be Anhalt,"
60observed the lady archly, after a short pause; "for he is a clergyman, you know." "That circumstance would by no means
61tempt me," he replied, "for I should be sorry to make the character ridiculous by bad acting. It must be very difficult
62to keep Anhalt from appearing a formal, solemn lecturer; and the man who chuses the profession itself is, perhaps, one
63of the last who would wish to represent it on the stage." Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of
64resentment and mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer the tea-table, and gave all her attention to Mrs.
65Norris, who was presiding there. "Fanny," cried Tom Bertram, from the other table, where the conference was eagerly
66carrying on, and the conversation incessant, "we want your services." Fanny was up in a moment, expecting some errand;
67for the habit of employing her in that way was not yet overcome, in spite of all that Edmund could do. "Oh! we do not
68want to disturb you from your seat. We do not want your present services. We shall only want you in our play. You must
69be Cottager's wife."
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