第35章

Whatevermightbeitseffect，however，shemuststandthebruntofitagainthatveryday。

Thefirstregularrehearsalofthethreefirstactswascertainlytotakeplaceintheevening：Mrs。GrantandtheCrawfordswereengagedtoreturnforthatpurposeassoonastheycouldafterdinner；andeveryoneconcernedwaslookingforwardwitheagerness。Thereseemedageneraldiffusionofcheerfulnessontheoccasion。

Tomwasenjoyingsuchanadvancetowardstheend；

Edmundwasinspiritsfromthemorning’srehearsal，andlittlevexationsseemedeverywheresmoothedaway。

Allwerealertandimpatient；theladiesmovedsoon，thegentlemensoonfollowedthem，andwiththeexceptionofLadyBertram，Mrs。Norris，andJulia，everybodywasinthetheatreatanearlyhour；andhavinglighteditupaswellasitsunfinishedstateadmitted，werewaitingonlythearrivalofMrs。GrantandtheCrawfordstobegin。

TheydidnotwaitlongfortheCrawfords，buttherewasnoMrs。Grant。Shecouldnotcome。Dr。Grant，professinganindisposition，forwhichhehadlittlecreditwithhisfairsister-in-law，couldnotsparehiswife。

“Dr。Grantisill，“saidshe，withmocksolemnity。

“Hehasbeenilleversincehedidnoteatanyofthepheasanttoday。Hefanciedittough，sentawayhisplate，andhasbeensufferingeversince“。

Herewasdisappointment!Mrs。Grant’snon-attendancewassadindeed。Herpleasantmannersandcheerfulconformitymadeheralwaysvaluableamongstthem；

but_now_shewasabsolutelynecessary。Theycouldnotact，theycouldnotrehearsewithanysatisfactionwithouther。

Thecomfortofthewholeeveningwasdestroyed。

Whatwastobedone？Tom，asCottager，wasindespair。

Afterapauseofperplexity，someeyesbegantobeturnedtowardsFanny，andavoiceortwotosay，“IfMissPricewouldbesogoodasto_read_thepart。“

Shewasimmediatelysurroundedbysupplications；

everybodyaskedit；evenEdmundsaid，“Do，Fanny，ifitisnot_very_disagreeabletoyou。“

ButFannystillhungback。Shecouldnotenduretheideaofit。WhywasnotMissCrawfordtobeappliedtoaswell？

Orwhyhadnotsherathergonetoherownroom，asshehadfelttobesafest，insteadofattendingtherehearsalatall？Shehadknownitwouldirritateanddistressher；shehadknownitherdutytokeepaway。

Shewasproperlypunished。

“Youhaveonlyto_read_thepart，“saidHenryCrawford，withrenewedentreaty。

“AndIdobelieveshecansayeverywordofit，“

addedMaria，“forshecouldputMrs。Grantrighttheotherdayintwentyplaces。Fanny，Iamsureyouknowthepart。“

Fannycouldnotsayshedid_not_；andastheyallpersevered，asEdmundrepeatedhiswish，andwithalookofevenfonddependenceonhergood-nature，shemustyield。

Shewoulddoherbest。Everybodywassatisfied；andshewaslefttothetremorsofamostpalpitatingheart，whiletheotherspreparedtobegin。

They_did_begin；andbeingtoomuchengagedintheirownnoisetobestruckbyanunusualnoiseintheotherpartofthehouse，hadproceededsomewaywhenthedooroftheroomwasthrownopen，andJulia，appearingatit，withafaceallaghast，exclaimed，“Myfatheriscome!

Heisinthehallatthismoment。“

Howistheconsternationofthepartytobedescribed？

Tothegreaternumberitwasamomentofabsolutehorror。

SirThomasinthehouse!Allfelttheinstantaneousconvict

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