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Edmund had already gone through the service once since his ordination;
and upon this being understood, he had a variety of questions
from Crawford as to his feelings and success; questions, which
being made, though with the vivacity of friendly interest and quick
taste, without any touch of that spirit of banter or air of levity which
Edmund knew to be most offensive to Fanny, he had true pleasure in
satisfying; and when Crawford proceeded to ask his opinion and give
his own as to the properest manner in which particular passages in
the service should be delivered, shewing it to be a subject on which he
had thought before, and thought with judgment, Edmund was still
more and more pleasedThis would be the way to Fanny?s heartShe
was not to be won by all that gallantry and wit and good-nature together
could do; or, at least, she would not be won by them nearly so
soon, without the assistance of sentiment and feeling, and seriousness
on serious subjects
?Our liturgy,? observed Crawford, ?has beauties, which not even
a careless, slovenly style of reading can destroy; but it has also re295
Jane Austen
dundancies and repetitions which require good reading not to be
feltFor myself, at least, I must confess being not always so attentive
as I ought to be? (here was a glance at Fanny); ?that nineteen times
out of twenty I am thinking how such a prayer ought to be read,
and longing to have silver rolex daytona watches it to read myselfDid you speak?? stepping
eagerly to Fanny, and addressing her in a softened voice; and upon
her saying ?No,? he added, ?Are you sure you did not speak? I saw
your lips moveI fancied you might be going to tell me I ought to
be more attentive, and not allow my thoughts to wanderAre not
you going to tell me so??
?No, indeed, you know your duty too well for me to?even supposing??
She stopt, felt herself getting into a puzzle, and could not be prevailed
on to add another word, not by dint of several minutes of
supplication and waitingHe then returned to his former station,
and went on as if there had been no such tender interruption
?A sermon, well delivered, is more uncommon even than prayers
well readA sermon, good in itself, is no rare thingIt is more difficult
to speak well than to compose well; that is, the rules and trick
of composition are oftener an object of studyA thoroughly good
sermon, thoroughly well delivered, is a capital gratificationI can
never hear such a one without the greatest admiration and respect,
and more than half a mind to take orders and preach myselfThere
is something in the eloquence of the pulpit, when it is really eloquence,
which is entitled to the highest praise and honourThe
preacher who can touch and affect such an heterogeneous mass of
hearers, on subjects limited, and long worn threadbare in all common
hands; who can say anything new chanel purse knock offs or striking, anything that
rouses the attention without offending the taste, or wearing out the
feelings of his hearers, is a man whom one could not, in his public
capacity, honour enoughI should like to be such a manI never listened to a distinguished preacher in
my life without a sort of envyBut then, I must have a London
audienceI could not preach but to the educated; to those who were
capable of estimating my compositionAnd I do not know that I
should be fond of preaching often; now and then, perhaps once or
296
Mansfield Park
twice in the spring, after being anxiously expected for half a dozen
Sundays together; but not for a constancy; it would not do for a
constancy
Here Fanny, who could not but listen, involuntarily shook her
head, and Crawford was instantly by her side again, entreating to
know her meaning; and as Edmund perceived, by his drawing in a
chair, and sitting down close by her, that it was to be a very thorough
attack, that looks and undertones were to be well tried, he
sank as quietly as possible into a corner, turned his back, and took
up a newspaper, very sincerely wishing that dear little Fanny might
be persuaded into explaining away that shake of the head to the
satisfaction of her ardent lover; and as earnestly trying to bury every
sound of the business from himself in murmurs of his own, over the
various advertisements of ?A most desirable Estate in South discount louis vuitton bags Wales?;
?To Parents and Guardians?; and a ?Capital season?d Hunter
Fanny, meanwhile, vexed with herself for not having been as motionless
as she was speechless, and grieved to the heart to see
Edmund?s arrangements, was trying by everything in the power of
her modest, gentle nature, to repulse MrCrawford, and avoid both
his looks and inquiries; and he, unrepulsable, was persisting in both
?What did that shake of the head mean?? said he?What was it
meant to express? Disapprobation, I fearBut of what? What had I
been saying to displease you? Did you think me speaking improperly,
lightly, irreverently on the subject? Only tell me if I wasOnly
tell me if I was wrongI want to be set rightNay, nay, I entreat you;
for one moment put down your workWhat did that shake of the
head mean??
In vain was her ?Pray, sir, don?t; pray, MrCrawford,? repeated
twice over; and in vain did she try to move awayIn the same low,
eager voice, and the same close neighbourhood, he went on, reurging
the same questions as beforeShe grew more agitated and displeased
?How can you, sir? You quite astonish me; I wonder how you
can??
?Do I astonish you?? said he?Do you wonder? Is there anything
in my present entreaty that you do not understand? I will explain to
you instantly all that makes me urge you in this manner, all that
gives me an interest in what you look and do, and excites my present
297
Jane fendi large clutch Austen
curiosityI will not leave you to wonder long
In spite of herself, she could not help half a smile, but she said
nothing
?You shook your head at my acknowledging that I should not like
to engage in the duties of a clergyman always for a constancyYes,
that was the wordConstancy: I am not afraid of the wordI would
spell it, read it, write it with anybodyI see nothing alarming in the
wordDid you think I ought??
?Perhaps, sir,? said Fanny, wearied at last into speaking??perhaps,
sir, I thought it was a pity you did not always know yourself as
well as you seemed to do at that moment
Crawford, delighted to get her to speak at any rate, was determined
to keep it up; and poor Fanny, who had hoped to silence him
by such an extremity of reproof, found herself sadly mistaken, and
that it was only a change from one object of curiosity and one set of
words to anotherHe had always something to entreat the explanation
ofThe opportunity was too fairNone such had occurred since
his seeing her in her uncle?s room, none such might occur again
before his leaving MansfieldLady Bertram?s being just on the other
side of the table was a trifle, for she might always be considered as
only half-awake, and Edmund?s advertisements were still of the first
utility
?Well,? said Crawford, after a course of rapid questions and reluctant
answers; ?I am happier than I was, because I now understand
more clearly your opinion cheap rolex watches of |