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He had to reinstate himself in all the wonted...

Posted at 11:22 PM on Wednesday, May 5, 2010
He had to reinstate himself in all the wonted concerns of his Mansfield life: to see his steward and his bailiff; to examine and compute, and, in the intervals of business, to walk into his stables and his gardens, and nearest plantations; but active and methodical, he had not only done all this before he resumed his seat as master of the house at dinner, he had also set the carpenter to work in pulling down what had been so lately put up in the billiard-room, and given the scene-painter his dismissal long enough to justify the pleasing belief of his being then at least as far off as NorthamptonThe scene-painter was gone, having spoilt only the floor of one room, ruined all the coachman?s sponges, and made five of the under-servants idle and dissatisfied; and Sir Thomas was in hopes that another day or two would suffice to wipe away every outward memento of what had been, even to the destruction of every unbound copy of Lovers? Vows in the house, for he was burning all that met his eye MrYates was beginning now to understand Sir Thomas?s intentions, though as far as ever from understanding their sourceHe and his friend had been out with their guns the chief of the morning, and Tom had taken the opportunity of explaining, with proper apologies for his father?s particularity, what was to be expected Yates felt it as acutely as might be supposedTo be a second time disappointed in the same way was an instance of very severe ill-luck; and his indignation was such, that had chloe paddingtons it not been for delicacy towards his friend, and his friend?s youngest sister, he believed he should certainly attack the baronet on the absurdity of his proceedings, and argue him into a little more rationalityHe believed this very stoutly while he was in Mansfield Wood, and all the way home; but there was a something in Sir Thomas, when they sat round the same table, which made MrYates think it wiser to let him pursue his own way, and feel the folly of it without oppositionHe had known many disagreeable fathers before, and often been struck with the 167 Jane Austen inconveniences they occasioned, but never, in the whole course of his life, had he seen one of that class so unintelligibly moral, so infamously tyrannical as Sir ThomasHe was not a man to be endured but for his children?s sake, and he might be thankful to his fair daughter Julia that MrYates did yet mean to stay a few days longer under his roof The evening passed with external smoothness, though almost every mind was ruffled; and the music which Sir Thomas called for from his daughters helped to conceal the want of real harmony Maria was in a good deal of agitationIt was of the utmost consequence to her that Crawford should now lose no time in declaring himself, and she was disturbed that even a day should be gone by without seeming to advance that pointShe had been expecting to see him the whole morning, and all the evening, too, was still expecting himRushworth had set off early with the great louis vuitton wallet news for Sotherton; and she had fondly hoped for such an immediate eclaircissement as might save him the trouble of ever coming back againBut they had seen no one from the Parsonage, not a creature, and had heard no tidings beyond a friendly note of congratulation and inquiry from MrsGrant to Lady BertramIt was the first day for many, many weeks, in which the families had been wholly divided Four-and-twenty hours had never passed before, since August began, without bringing them together in some way or other It was a sad, anxious day; and the morrow, though differing in the sort of evil, did by no means bring lessA few moments of feverish enjoyment were followed by hours of acute sufferingHenry Crawford was again in the house: he walked up with DrGrant, who was anxious to pay his respects to Sir Thomas, and at rather an early hour they were ushered into the breakfast-room, where were most of the familySir Thomas soon appeared, and Maria saw with delight and agitation the introduction of the man she loved to her fatherHer sensations were indefinable, and so were they a few minutes afterwards upon hearing Henry Crawford, who had a chair between herself and Tom, ask the latter in an undervoice whether there were any plans for resuming the play after the present happy interruption (with a courteous glance at Sir Thomas), because, in that case, he should make a point of returning to Mansfield at any 168 Mansfield Park time required by the party: he was going away immediately, louis vuitton speedy bag on sale being to meet his uncle at Bath without delay; but if there were any prospect of a renewal of Lovers? Vows, he should hold himself positively engaged, he should break through every other claim, he should absolutely condition with his uncle for attending them whenever he might be wantedThe play should not be lost by his absence ?From Bath, Norfolk, London, York, wherever I may be,? said he; ?I will attend you from any place in England, at an hour?s notice It was well at that moment that Tom had to speak, and not his sisterHe could immediately say with easy fluency, ?I am sorry you are going; but as to our play, that is all over?entirely at an end? (looking significantly at his father)?The painter was sent off yesterday, and very little will remain of the theatre to-morrowI knew how that would be from the firstYou will find nobody there ?It is about my uncle?s usual time ?When do you think of going?? ?I may, perhaps, get as far as Banbury to-day ?Whose stables do you use at Bath?? was the next question; and while this branch of the subject was under discussion, Maria, who wanted neither pride nor resolution, was preparing to encounter her share of it with tolerable calmness To her he soon turned, repeating much of what he had already said, with only a softened air and stronger expressions of regretBut what availed his expressions or his air? He was going, and, if not voluntarily going, voluntarily intending to stay away; for, excepting what might be due to his uncle, his pasha cartier engagements were all self-imposed He might talk of necessity, but she knew his independence The hand which had so pressed hers to his heart! the hand and the heart were alike motionless and passive now! Her spirit supported her, but the agony of her mind was severeShe had not long to endure what arose from listening to language which his actions contradicted, or to bury the tumult of her feelings under the restraint of society; for general civilities soon called his notice from her, and the farewell visit, as it then became openly acknowledged, was a very short oneHe was gone?he had touched her hand for the last time, he had made his parting bow, and she might seek directly all that 169 Jane Austen solitude could do for herHenry Crawford was gone, gone from the house, and within two hours afterwards from the parish; and so ended all the hopes his selfish vanity had raised in Maria and Julia Bertram Julia could rejoice that he was goneHis presence was beginning to be odious to her; and if Maria gained him not, she was now cool enough to dispense with any other revengeShe did not want exposure to be added to desertionHenry Crawford gone, she could even pity her sister With a purer spirit did Fanny rejoice in the intelligenceShe heard it at dinner, and felt it a blessingBy all the others it was mentioned with regret; and his merits honoured with due gradation of feeling? from the sincerity of Edmund?s too partial regard, to the unconcern of his mother speaking entirely by balenciaga knock off motorcycle bag




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