“This is the first October that she has passed in the country since her infancy. Mrs. Grant is very anxious for her not finding Mansfield dull as winter comes on.”

Fanny could have said a great deal, but it was safer to say nothing, and leave untouched all Miss Crawford’s resources—her accomplishments, her spirits, her importance, her friends, her dire sanguine habits—lest it should betray her into any observations seemingly unhandsome. And she began to talk of something else.

“To-morrow, I think, my uncle dines at Sotherton, and you and Mr. Bertram too. We shall be quite a small party at home. I hope my uncle may continue to like Mr. Rushworth.”

“That is impossible, Fanny. He must like him less after to-morrow’s visit, for we shall be five hours in his company. I should dread the stupidity of the day, if there were not a much greater evil to follow—the impression it must leave on Sir Thomas. He cannot much longer deceive himself. I am sorry for them all, and would give anything that Rushworth and Maria had never met.”

A misfortune exacerbated even further by the subsequent meeting of Mr. Rushworth and Mrs. Norris under dire moonlit circumstances, thought Fanny.

In this quarter, indeed, disappointment was impending over Sir Thomas. Not all his good-will for Mr. Rushworth, not all Mr. Rushworth’s deference for him, could prevent him from soon discerning some part of the truth—that Mr. Rushworth was not only a lycanthrope but an inferior young man, as ignorant in business as in books, with opinions in general unfixed (unlike his spittle), and without seeming much aware of it himself.

“Incidentally, it is quite obvious, but when have Mrs. Norris and Mr. Rushworth been thrown together so as to produce the certain unmentionable circumstances?” Sir Thomas discreetly inquired. Edmund responded he was uncertain.

In short, Sir Thomas had expected a very different son-in-law. Beginning to feel grave on Maria’s account, he tried to understand her feelings. Little observation there was necessary to tell him that there was indifference, at best. Her behaviour to Mr. Rushworth was careless and cold. She did not like him. Sir Thomas resolved to speak seriously to her. Advantageous as would be the alliance, and long standing and public as was the engagement, her happiness must not be sacrificed to it. Mr. Rushworth had, perhaps, been accepted on too short an acquaintance, and, on knowing him better, she was repenting.