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1The intercourse of the two families was at this period more nearly restored to what it had been in the autumn, than any
2member of the old intimacy had thought ever likely to be again. The return of Henry Crawford, and the arrival of William
3Price, had much to do with it, but much was still owing to Sir Thomas's more than toleration of the neighbourly attempts
4at the Parsonage. His mind, now disengaged from the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find the
5Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the
6most advantageous matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities of any one most dear to him,
7and disdaining even as a littleness the being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in a grand
8and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing his niece--nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously)
9from giving a more willing assent to invitations on that account. His readiness, however, in agreeing to dine at the
10Parsonage, when the general invitation was at last hazarded, after many debates and many doubts as to whether it were
11worth while, "because Sir Thomas seemed so ill inclined, and Lady Bertram was so indolent!" proceeded from good-breeding
12and goodwill alone, and had nothing to do with Mr. Crawford, but as being one in an agreeable group: for it was in the
13course of that very visit that he first began to think that any one in the habit of such idle observations would have
14thought that Mr. Crawford was the admirer of Fanny Price. The meeting was generally felt to be a pleasant one, being
15composed in a good proportion of those who would talk and those who would listen; and the dinner itself was elegant and
16plentiful, according to the usual style of the Grants, and too much according to the usual habits of all to raise any
17emotion except in Mrs. Norris, who could never behold either the wide table or the number of dishes on it with patience,
18and who did always contrive to experience some evil from the passing of the servants behind her chair, and to bring away
19some fresh conviction of its being impossible among so many dishes but that some must be cold. In the evening it was
20found, according to the predetermination of Mrs. Grant and her sister, that after making up the whist-table there would
21remain sufficient for a round game, and everybody being as perfectly complying and without a choice as on such occasions
22they always are, speculation was decided on almost as soon as whist; and Lady Bertram soon found herself in the critical
23situation of being applied to for her own choice between the games, and being required either to draw a card for whist
24or not. She hesitated. Luckily Sir Thomas was at hand. "What shall I do, Sir Thomas? Whist and speculation; which will
25amuse me most?" Sir Thomas, after a moment's thought, recommended speculation. He was a whist player himself, and
26perhaps might feel that it would not much amuse him to have her for a partner. "Very well," was her ladyship's contented
27answer; "then speculation, if you please, Mrs. Grant. I know nothing about it, but Fanny must teach me." Here Fanny
28interposed, however, with anxious protestations of her own equal ignorance; she had never played the game nor seen it
29played in her life; and Lady Bertram felt a moment's indecision again; but upon everybody's assuring her that nothing
30could be so easy, that it was the easiest game on the cards, and Henry Crawford's stepping forward with a most earnest
31request to be allowed to sit between her ladyship and Miss Price, and teach them both, it was so settled; and Sir
32Thomas, Mrs. Norris, and Dr. and Mrs. Grant being seated at the table of prime intellectual state and dignity, the
33remaining six, under Miss Crawford's direction, were arranged round the other. It was a fine arrangement for Henry
34Crawford, who was close to Fanny, and with his hands full of business, having two persons' cards to manage as well as
35his own; for though it was impossible for Fanny not to feel herself mistress of the rules of the game in three minutes,
36he had yet to inspirit her play, sharpen her avarice, and harden her heart, which, especially in any competition with
37William, was a work of some difficulty; and as for Lady Bertram, he must continue in charge of all her fame and fortune
38through the whole evening; and if quick enough to keep her from looking at her cards when the deal began, must direct
39her in whatever was to be done with them to the end of it. He was in high spirits, doing everything with happy ease, and
40preeminent in all the lively turns, quick resources, and playful impudence that could do honour to the game; and the
41round table was altogether a very comfortable contrast to the steady sobriety and orderly silence of the other. Twice
42had Sir Thomas inquired into the enjoyment and success of his lady, but in vain; no pause was long enough for the time
43his measured manner needed; and very little of her state could be known till Mrs. Grant was able, at the end of the
44first rubber, to go to her and pay her compliments. "I hope your ladyship is pleased with the game." "Oh dear, yes! very
45entertaining indeed. A very odd game. I do not know what it is all about. I am never to see my cards; and Mr. Crawford
46does all the rest." "Bertram," said Crawford, some time afterwards, taking the opportunity of a little languor in the
47game, "I have never told you what happened to me yesterday in my ride home." They had been hunting together, and were in
48the midst of a good run, and at some distance from Mansfield, when his horse being found to have flung a shoe, Henry
49Crawford had been obliged to give up, and make the best of his way back. "I told you I lost my way after passing that
50old farmhouse with the yew-trees, because I can never bear to ask; but I have not told you that, with my usual luck--for
51I never do wrong without gaining by it--I found myself in due time in the very place which I had a curiosity to see. I
52was suddenly, upon turning the corner of a steepish downy field, in the midst of a retired little village between gently
53rising hills; a small stream before me to be forded, a church standing on a sort of knoll to my right--which church was
54strikingly large and handsome for the place, and not a gentleman or half a gentleman's house to be seen excepting
55one--to be presumed the Parsonage--within a stone's throw of the said knoll and church. I found myself, in short, in
56Thornton Lacey." "It sounds like it," said Edmund; "but which way did you turn after passing Sewell's farm?" "I answer
57no such irrelevant and insidious questions; though were I to answer all that you could put in the course of an hour, you
58would never be able to prove that it was not Thornton Lacey--for such it certainly was." "You inquired, then?" "No, I
59never inquire. But I told a man mending a hedge that it was Thornton Lacey, and he agreed to it." "You have a good
60memory. I had forgotten having ever told you half so much of the place." Thornton Lacey was the name of his impending
61living, as Miss Crawford well knew; and her interest in a negotiation for William Price's knave increased. "Well,"
62continued Edmund, "and how did you like what you saw?" "Very much indeed. You are a lucky fellow. There will be work for
63five summers at least before the place is liveable." "No, no, not so bad as that. The farmyard must be moved, I grant
64you; 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
65very tolerable approach to it."
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