第48章

Theintercourseofthetwofamilieswasatthisperiodmorenearlyrestoredtowhatithadbeenintheautumn，thananymemberoftheoldintimacyhadthoughteverlikelytobeagain。ThereturnofHenryCrawford，andthearrivalofWilliamPrice，hadmuchtodowithit，butmuchwasstillowingtoSirThomas’smorethantolerationoftheneighbourlyattemptsattheParsonage。Hismind，nowdisengagedfromthecareswhichhadpressedonhimatfirst，wasatleisuretofindtheGrantsandtheiryounginmatesreallyworthvisiting；andthoughinfinitelyaboveschemingorcontrivingforanythemostadvantageousmatrimonialestablishmentthatcouldbeamongtheapparentpossibilitiesofanyonemostdeartohim，anddisdainingevenasalittlenessthebeingquick-sightedonsuchpoints，hecouldnotavoidperceiving，inagrandandcarelessway，thatMr。Crawfordwassomewhatdistinguishinghisniece——

norperhapsrefrain(thoughunconsciously)fromgivingamorewillingassenttoinvitationsonthataccount。

Hisreadiness，however，inagreeingtodineattheParsonage，whenthegeneralinvitationwasatlasthazarded，aftermanydebatesandmanydoubtsastowhetheritwereworthwhile，“becauseSirThomasseemedsoillinclined，andLadyBertramwassoindolent!“proceededfromgood-breedingandgoodwillalone，andhadnothingtodowithMr。Crawford，butasbeingoneinanagreeablegroup：

foritwasinthecourseofthatveryvisitthathefirstbegantothinkthatanyoneinthehabitofsuchidleobservations_would__have__thought_thatMr。CrawfordwastheadmirerofFannyPrice。

Themeetingwasgenerallyfelttobeapleasantone，beingcomposedinagoodproportionofthosewhowouldtalkandthosewhowouldlisten；andthedinneritselfwaselegantandplentiful，accordingtotheusualstyleoftheGrants，andtoomuchaccordingtotheusualhabitsofalltoraiseanyemotionexceptinMrs。Norris，whocouldneverbeholdeitherthewidetableorthenumberofdishesonitwithpatience，andwhodidalwayscontrivetoexperiencesomeevilfromthepassingoftheservantsbehindherchair，andtobringawaysomefreshconvictionofitsbeingimpossibleamongsomanydishesbutthatsomemustbecold。

Intheeveningitwasfound，accordingtothepredeterminationofMrs。Grantandhersister，thataftermakingupthewhist-tabletherewouldremainsufficientforaroundgame，andeverybodybeingasperfectlycomplyingandwithoutachoiceasonsuchoccasionstheyalwaysare，speculationwasdecidedonalmostassoonaswhist；

andLadyBertramsoonfoundherselfinthecriticalsituationofbeingappliedtoforherownchoicebetweenthegames，andbeingrequiredeithertodrawacardforwhistornot。

Shehesitated。LuckilySirThomaswasathand。

“WhatshallIdo，SirThomas？Whistandspeculation；

whichwillamusememost？“

SirThomas，afteramoment’sthought，recommendedspeculation。

Hewasawhistplayerhimself，andperha

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