In the drawing-room Mr. Crawford certainly was, having been just long enough arrived to be ready for dinner. The smiles and pleased looks of the three others standing round him, shewed how welcome was his sudden coming for a few days on leaving Bath. A very cordial meeting passed between him and Edmund; and with the exception of Fanny, the pleasure was general; and even to her there might be some advantage in his presence, since every addition to the party allowed her to be less noticed.

She was soon aware of this herself. A happy flow of conversation prevailed, and she was not required to take any part—brother and sister conversed about Bath, the two young men about hunting, Mr. Crawford and Dr. Grant traded politics, and Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Grant conversed on generalities. Fanny listened quietly, passing a very agreeable day.

She could not compliment the newly arrived gentleman, however, with any appearance of interest in a scheme for extending his stay at Mansfield. Her opinion was sought on the weather, but her answers were as short and indifferent as civility allowed. She could not wish him to stay, and would much rather not have him speak to her.

Her two absent cousins, especially Maria, were much in her thoughts on seeing him. But no embarrassing remembrance affected his spirits. Here he was apparently as willing to stay and be happy without the Miss Bertrams, as if he had never known Mansfield in any other state. She heard them spoken of by him only in a general way, till they were all re-assembled in the drawing-room. When Edmund was engrossed apart in some matter of business with Dr. Grant, and Mrs. Grant occupied at the tea-table, Mr. Crawford began talking of them with more particularity to his other sister. With a significant smile, which made Fanny quite hate him, he said, “So! Rushworth and his fair bride are at Brighton, I understand; happy man!”

“Yes, they have been there about a fortnight, Miss Price, have they not? And Julia is with them.”

“And Mr. Yates, I presume, is not far off.”

“Mr. Yates! Oh! we hear nothing of Mr. Yates. I do not imagine he figures much in the letters to Mansfield Park; do you, Miss Price? I think my friend Julia knows better than to entertain her father with Mr. Yates.”