“If I were to decline the part,” said Maria, with renewed zeal, “Julia would certainly take it.”

“What!” cried Edmund, “if she knew your reasons!”

“Oh! she might think of the difference in our situations—that she need not be so scrupulous. No; you must excuse me; I cannot retract my consent. It is too far settled, everybody would be so disappointed, Tom angry; and we shall never act anything.”

“I was just going to say the very same thing,” said Mrs. Norris. “If every play is to be objected to, you will act nothing, and the preparations will be all so much money thrown away. I do not know the play; but anything a little too warm can be left out. As Mr. Rushworth is to act too, there can be no harm.”

And then Mrs. Norris proceeded to talk of carpenters, side-doors, curtains, rings, the poultry-yard, Dick Jackson, bits of board, and other details of the preparations.

Nobody troubled to answer; the others soon returned; and Edmund found that his effort was to be his only satisfaction.

Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris related again her triumph over Dick Jackson, but neither play nor preparation were otherwise much talked of, for Edmund’s disapprobation was felt even by his brother, though he would not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford’s animating support, thought the subject better avoided. Mr. Yates tried to make himself agreeable to Julia. And Mr. Rushworth, having only his own part and his own dress in his head, had soon talked away all that could be said of either, all while fiercely consuming the greater portion of a whole rack of lamb—tearing into the meat with his decidedly oversized canine teeth while muttering growls followed by sudden impassioned lines of dialogue out of Lovers’ Vows.

Meanwhile, many servants carrying the succession of dishes, stopped for an inexplicable second or two behind the chair occupied by Lord Eastwind. Then, each man blinking and looking dazed, they proceeded on their way, with full use of their faculties. There was neither a single collision or dish dropped, nor a missed footfall.

The Mummy dined as well as the rest of the household.

After dinner, theatrical matters were resumed: there was still a great deal to be settled. Back in the drawing-room, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates seated themselves in committee at a separate table, with the play open before them. They were just getting deep in the subject when a most welcome interruption was given by the entrance of Mr. and Miss Crawford. Late and dark and dirty as it was, they could not help coming, and were received with grateful joy.