@@@@@We used to jump about together many a time,
@@@@@We used
to jump about together many a time, did not we? when the handorgan
was in the street? I am a pretty good dancer in my way, but I
dare say you are a better And turning to his uncle, who was now
close to them, “Is not Fanny a very good dancer, sir?”
Fanny, in dismay at such an unprecedented question, did not know
which way to look, or how to be prepared for the answerSome very
grave reproof, or at least the coldest expression of indifference, must
be coming to distress her brother, and sink her to the groundBut,
on the contrary, it was no worse than, “I am sorry to say that I am
unable to answer your questionI have never seen Fanny dance since
she was a little girl; but I trust we shall both think she acquits herself
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Jane Austen
like a gentlewoman when we do see her, which, perhaps, we may
have an opportunity of doing ere long
“I have had the pleasure of seeing your sister dance, MrPrice,”
said Henry Crawford, leaning forward, “and will engage to answer
every inquiry which you can make on the subject, to your entire
satisfactionBut I believe” (seeing Fanny looked distressed) “it must
be at some other timeThere is one person in company who does
not like to have Miss Price spoken of
True enough, he had once seen Fanny dance; and it was equally
true that he would now have answered for her gliding about with
quiet, light elegance, and in admirable time; but, in fact, he could not
for the life of him recall what her dancing had been, and rather took
it for granted that she had been present than remembered anything
about her
He passed, however, for an admirer of her dancing; and Sir Thomas,
by no means displeased, prolonged the conversation on dancing
in general, and was so well engaged in describing the balls of
Antigua, and listening to what his nephew could relate of the different
modes of dancing which had fallen within his observation, that
he had not heard his carriage announced, and was first called to the
knowledge of it by the bustle of Mrs
“Come, Fanny, Fanny, what are you about? We are goingDo not
you see your aunt is going? Quick, quick! I cannot bear to keep
good old Wilcox waitingYou should always remember the coachman
and horsesMy dear Sir Thomas, we have settled it that the
carriage should come back for you, and Edmund and William
Sir Thomas could not dissent, as it had been his own arrangement,
previously communicated to his wife and sister; but that
seemed forgotten by MrsNorris, who must fancy that she settled it
all herself
Fanny’s last feeling in the visit was disappointment: for the shawl
which Edmund was quietly taking from the servant to bring and
put round her shoulders was seized by MrCrawford’s quicker hand,
and she was obliged to be indebted to his more prominent attention
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Mansfield Park
CHAPTER XXVI
WILLIAM’S DESIRE of seeing Fanny dance made more than a momentary
impression on his uncleThe hope of an opportunity, which
Sir Thomas had then given, was not given to be thought of no more
He remained steadily inclined to gratify so amiable a feeling; to
gratify anybody else who might wish to see Fanny dance, and to
give pleasure to the young people in general; and having thought
the matter over, and taken his resolution in quiet independence, the
result of it appeared the next morning at breakfast, when, after recalling
and commending what his nephew had said, he added, “I do
not like, William, that you should leave Northamptonshire without
this indulgenceIt would give me pleasure to see you both dance
You spoke of the balls at NorthamptonYour cousins have occasionally
attended them; but they would not altogether suit us now