They were then to set forward for the dockyard at once, and the walk would have been conducted—according to Mr. Crawford’s opinion—in a singular manner, had Mr. Price been allowed the entire regulation of it. The two girls would have been left to follow, and keep up with them or not, as they could, while the two gentlemen walked on together at their own hasty pace. Instead, Mr. Crawford was able to introduce some improvement occasionally, though by no means to the extent he wished—he absolutely would not walk away from them; and at any crossing or any crowd, when Mr. Price was only calling out, “Come, girls; come, Fan; come, Sue, take care of yourselves; keep a sharp lookout!” he would give them his particular attendance.

At one point they passed a goods warehouse loading facility, and there was a remarkable number of boxes and wooden crates stacked along the row, many of them marked with big red crosses which, according to Mr. Price, indicated non-delivery, or a sort of “return to sender” status. “We have been getting a remarkable amount of these around town most recently. Crates everywhere! Rumor has it, they were returned by some lordship because his good spouse had overextended herself in the purchasing department. Upon my word! Look at ’em! Most hailing from Cairo! Hah! Well then, back they go, all the way to Africa!”

While her father continued speaking, Fanny had an extremely sinking feeling right then, a feeling of impending dread and a terrible suspicion.

Mr. Crawford momentarily threw her one very knowing glance.

It was also the moment in which Fanny happened to glance closer at one of the crates, and noticed that its nailed lid had apparently come loose somehow, and now was moving, all of its own accord. . . .

“Oh dear . . .” said Fanny. She just could not help herself, it came out.

Crawford glanced in the direction of her stare and lifted one brow quizzically. “Could it be, dear Fanny,” he whispered, leaning in, “that we are about to be re-acquainted with one of Lady Bertram’s exotic purchases? Ah, but you do know what I mean; please, I beg you do not attempt to disguise it.”

And as Fanny looked at him with desperate eyes, he nodded once then spoke much louder on behalf of Mr. Price: “I believe we should take a right turn here instead, sir. I think I see an interesting dock structure in the distance. Let us make some haste!”

Thus, cleverly redirecting her father’s attention, and quickening his pace as though particularly interested in sightseeing, Mr. Crawford had them all away from the imminent danger within the crates.