Fanny's heart was not absolutely the only saddened one amongst them, as she
soon began to acknowledge to herself. Julia was a sufferer too, though not quite
so blamelessly.
Henry Crawford had trifled with her feelings; but she had very long allowed
and even sought his attentions, with a jealousy of her sister so reasonable as
ought to have been their cure; and now that the conviction of his preference for
Maria had been forced on her, she submitted to it without any alarm for Maria's
situation, or any endeavour at rational tranquillity for herself. She either sat
in gloomy silence, wrapt in such gravity as nothing could subdue, no curiosity
touch, no wit amuse; or allowing the attentions of Mr. Yates, was talking with
forced gaiety to him alone, and ridiculing the acting of the others.
For a day or two after the affront was given, Henry Crawford had endeavoured
to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and compliment, but he had not
cared enough about it to persevere against a few repulses; and becoming soon too
busy with his play to have time for more than one flirtation, he grew
indifferent to the quarrel, or rather thought it a lucky occurrence, as quietly
putting an end to what might ere long have raised expectations in more than Mrs.
Grant. She was not pleased to see Julia excluded from the play, and sitting by
disregarded; but as it was not a matter which really involved her happiness, as
Henry must be the best judge of his own, and as he did assure her, with a most
persuasive smile, that neither he nor Julia had ever had a serious thought of
each other, she could only renew her former caution as to the elder sister,
entreat him not to risk his tranquillity by too much admiration there, and then
gladly take her share in anything that brought cheerfulness to the young people
in general, and that did so particularly promote the pleasure of the two so dear
to her.
"You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you see him in
his family, I assure you. I do not think we do so well without him. He has a
fine dignified manner, which suits the head of such a house, and keeps everybody
in their place. Lady Bertram seems more of a cipher now than when he is at home;
and nobody else can keep Mrs. Norris in order. But, Mary, do not fancy that
Maria Bertram cares for Henry. I am sure _Julia_ does not, or she would not have
flirted as she did last night with Mr. Yates; and though he and Maria are very
good friends, I think she likes Sotherton too well to be inconstant."
"I would not give much for Mr. Rushworth's chance if Henry stept in before
the articles were signed."
"If you have such a suspicion, something must be done; and as soon as the
play is all over, we will talk to him seriously and make him know his own mind;
and if he means nothing, we will send him off, though he is Henry, for a
time."
Julia _did_ suffer, however, though Mrs. Grant discerned it not, and though
it escaped the notice of many of her own family likewise. She had loved, she did
love still, and she had all the suffering which a warm temper and a high spirit
were likely to endure under the disappointment of a dear, though irrational
hope, with a strong sense of ill-usage. Her heart was sore and angry, and she
was capable only of angry consolations. The sister with whom she was used to be
on easy terms was now become her greatest enemy: they were alienated from each
other; and Julia was not superior to the hope of some distressing end to the
attentions which were still carrying on there, some punishment to Maria for
conduct so shameful towards herself as well as towards Mr. Rushworth. With no
material fault of temper, or difference of opinion, to prevent their being very
good friends while their interests were the same, the sisters, under such a
trial as this, had not affection or principle enough to make them merciful or
just, to give them honour or compassion. Maria felt her triumph, and pursued her
purpose, careless of Julia; and Julia could never see Maria distinguished by
Henry Crawford without trusting that it would create jealousy, and bring a
public disturbance at last.
Fanny saw and pitied much of this in Julia; but there was no outward
fellowship between them. Julia made no communication, and Fanny took no
liberties. They were two solitary sufferers, or connected only by Fanny's
consciousness.
The inattention of the two brothers and the aunt to Julia's discomposure, and
their blindness to its true cause, must be imputed to the fullness of their own
minds. They were totally preoccupied. Tom was engrossed by the concerns of his
theatre, and saw nothing that did not immediately relate to it. Edmund, between
his theatrical and his real part, between Miss Crawford's claims and his own
conduct, between love and consistency, was equally unobservant; and Mrs. Norris
was too busy in contriving and directing the general little matters of the
company, superintending their various dresses with economical expedient, for
which nobody thanked her, and saving, with delighted integrity, half a crown
here and there to the absent Sir Thomas, to have leisure for watching the
behaviour, or guarding the happiness of his daughters.
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