第82章

Nowtheycametoanunderstanding。Mrs。Price，itappeared，scarcelyeverstirredoutofdoors，exceptofaSunday；

sheownedshecouldseldom，withherlargefamily，findtimeforawalk。“Wouldshenot，then，persuadeherdaughterstotakeadvantageofsuchweather，andallowhimthepleasureofattendingthem？“Mrs。Pricewasgreatlyobligedandverycomplying。“Herdaughterswereverymuchconfined；Portsmouthwasasadplace；

theydidnotoftengetout；andsheknewtheyhadsomeerrandsinthetown，whichtheywouldbeverygladtodo。“

Andtheconsequencewas，thatFanny，strangeasitwas——

strange，awkward，anddistressing——foundherselfandSusan，withintenminutes，walkingtowardstheHighStreetwithMr。Crawford。

Itwassoonpainuponpain，confusionuponconfusion；

fortheywerehardlyintheHighStreetbeforetheymetherfather，whoseappearancewasnotthebetterfromitsbeingSaturday。Hestopt；and，ungentlemanlikeashelooked，FannywasobligedtointroducehimtoMr。Crawford。

ShecouldnothaveadoubtofthemannerinwhichMr。Crawfordmustbestruck。Hemustbeashamedanddisgustedaltogether。Hemustsoongiveherup，andceasetohavethesmallestinclinationforthematch；

andyet，thoughshehadbeensomuchwantinghisaffectiontobecured，thiswasasortofcurethatwouldbealmostasbadasthecomplaint；andIbelievethereisscarcelyayoungladyintheUnitedKingdomswhowouldnotratherputupwiththemisfortuneofbeingsoughtbyaclever，agreeableman，thanhavehimdrivenawaybythevulgarityofhernearestrelations。

Mr。Crawfordprobablycouldnotregardhisfuturefather-in-lawwithanyideaoftakinghimforamodelindress；but(asFannyinstantly，andtohergreatrelief，discerned)herfatherwasaverydifferentman，averydifferentMr。Priceinhisbehaviourtothismosthighlyrespectedstranger，fromwhathewasinhisownfamilyathome。Hismannersnow，thoughnotpolished，weremorethanpassable：theyweregrateful，animated，manly；

hisexpressionswerethoseofanattachedfather，andasensibleman；hisloudtonesdidverywellintheopenair，andtherewasnotasingleoathtobeheard。

SuchwashisinstinctivecomplimenttothegoodmannersofMr。Crawford；and，betheconsequencewhatitmight，Fanny’simmediatefeelingswereinfinitelysoothed。

Theconclusionofthetwogentlemen’scivilitieswasanofferofMr。Price’stotakeMr。Crawfordintothedockyard，whichMr。Crawford，desirousofacceptingasafavourwhatwasintendedassuch，thoughhehadseenthedockyardagainandagain，andhopingtobesomuchthelongerwithFanny，wasverygratefullydisposedtoavailhimselfof，iftheMissPriceswerenotafraidofthefatigue；

andasitwassomehoworotherascertained，orinferred，oratleastactedupon，thattheywerenotatallafraid，tothedockyardtheywerealltogo；andbutforMr。Crawford，Mr。Pricewouldhaveturnedthitherdirectly，withoutthesmallestconsiderationforhisdaughters’

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