“Fanny would have had quite as good a walk there, I assure you,” continued Mrs. Norris, not hearing Sir Thomas mumble, “with the advantage of being of some use, and obliging her aunt: it is all her fault.”

Sir Thomas thought it was unjust toward Fanny, and tried to turn the conversation. But Mrs. Norris had not discernment enough to perceive, not ever, to what degree he thought well of his niece. She continued talking at Fanny through the dinner, until Sir Thomas was ready to go outside and take an axe to the shrubbery himself so as not to hear another word.

At last dinner was over, and the evening set in, giving Fanny more time for reflection—to ponder in depth how wrong it was to marry without affection.

When the meeting with Mr. Crawford would take place, he would no doubt be gone from Mansfield. London would soon bring its cure. There he would soon learn to wonder at his infatuation, and be thankful for her refusal.

Soon after tea, her uncle was called out of the room. Fanny thought nothing of it till the butler reappeared ten minutes afterwards, and advancing decidedly towards herself, said, “Sir Thomas wishes to speak with you, ma’am, in his own room.”

A suspicion rushed over her, which drove the colour from her cheeks. Instantly rising, she prepared to obey, when Mrs. Norris called out, “Stay, stay, Fanny! where are you going? don’t be in such a hurry. Depend upon it, it is not you who are wanted, it is me” (looking at the butler); “but you are so very eager to put yourself forward. What should Sir Thomas want you for? It is me, Baddeley, you mean; I am coming this moment. Sir Thomas wants me, not Miss Price.”

But Baddeley—who still had a sore spot for Mrs. Norris, on behalf of her so-called scandalous tête-à-tête with Mr. Rushworth the morning after that ball, and the daily shrubbery, among other things—was stout in his retort. “No, ma’am, it is Miss Price; I am certain of its being Miss Price.” And there was an arch half-smile with the words, which meant, “I do not think you would answer the purpose at all, for there is no young Mr. Rushworth to be concerned with, you shameless—”

Mrs. Norris, much discontented, was obliged to stay.

And Fanny, going as directed, found herself, as she anticipated, in another minute alone with Mr. Crawford.

Chapter XXXIII

The conference was neither so short nor so conclusive as the lady hoped. The gentleman was not so easily satisfied. He had vanity, which inclined him in the first place to think she did love him, though she might not know it herself. The same vanity convinced him that in time he could convince her.