Here was disappointment! Mrs. Grant’s non-attendance was sad indeed. Her pleasant cheerful presence was not only valuable but now absolutely necessary. They could not act or rehearse without her. The comfort of the whole evening was destroyed. What was to be done? Tom, as Cottager, was in despair. Mr. Rushworth looked ready to chew his own coatsleeves as though they were lamb chops. After a pause of perplexity, some eyes began to be turned towards Fanny, and a voice or two to say, “If Miss Price would be so good as to read the part.” She was immediately surrounded by supplications; everybody, even Edmund said, “Do, Fanny, if it is not very disagreeable to you.” And Miss Crawford joined in, gifting her with a dark wicked smile.

But Fanny still hung back. She could not endure the idea of it. Why not someone else? Indeed, why had she attended the rehearsal at all, when it was her duty to keep away? She was properly punished.

“You have only to read the part,” said Henry Crawford, with renewed entreaty. His gaze, Fanny noted incidentally, was almost as compelling as his vampire sister’s. Could it be that he too was—

Fanny did not want to follow that sudden horrid thought.

“And I do believe she can say every word of it,” added Maria, “for she could put Mrs. Grant right the other day in twenty places. Fanny, I am sure you know the part.”

Fanny could not say she did not; and as they all persevered, as Edmund repeated his wish, she must yield. She would do her best. Everybody was satisfied; and she was left to the tremors of a most palpitating heart, while the others prepared to begin.

Somewhere in the shadows, Lord Eastwind watched them all, and Fanny in particular, in his usual intense silence.

They did begin; and were too much engaged in their own noise to be struck by an unusual noise in the other part of the house—a noise quite unlike the normal gentle settling noises of the house or the rustle of the household or the opening crates as the servants and the mummies proceeded on their daily routine—when the door of the room was thrown open.

Julia appeared, and, with a face all aghast, exclaimed, “My father is come! He is in the hall at this moment.”

Chapter XIX

How is the consternation of the party to be described? To the greater number it was a moment of absolute horror. Sir Thomas in the house!