@@@@@Norris’s removal from Mansfield was the
@@@@@Norris’s removal from Mansfield was the great supplementary
comfort of Sir Thomas’s lifeHis opinion of her had been sinking
from the day of his return from Antigua: in every transaction
together from that period, in their daily intercourse, in business, or
in chat, she had been regularly losing ground in his esteem, and
convincing him that either time had done her much disservice, or
that he had considerably over-rated her sense, and wonderfully borne
with her manners beforeHe had felt her as an hourly evil, which
was so much the worse, as there seemed no chance of its ceasing but
with life; she seemed a part of himself that must be borne for ever
To be relieved from her, therefore, was so great a felicity that, had
she not left bitter remembrances behind her, there might have been
danger of his learning almost to approve the evil which produced
such a good
She was regretted by no one at MansfieldShe had never been
able to attach even those she loved best; and since MrsRushworth’s
elopement, her temper had been in a state of such irritation as to
make her everywhere tormentingNot even Fanny had tears for
aunt Norris, not even when she was gone for ever
That Julia escaped better than Maria was owing, in some measure,
to a favourable difference of disposition and circumstance, but
in a greater to her having been less the darling of that very aunt, less
flattered and less spoiltHer beauty and acquirements had held but
a second placeShe had been always used to think herself a little
inferior to MariaHer temper was naturally the easiest of the two;
her feelings, though quick, were more controllable, and education
had not given her so very hurtful a degree of self-consequence
She had submitted the best to the disappointment in Henry
CrawfordAfter the first bitterness of the conviction of being slighted
was over, she had been tolerably soon in a fair way of not thinking
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of him again; and when the acquaintance was renewed in town, and
MrRushworth’s house became Crawford’s object, she had had the
merit of withdrawing herself from it, and of chusing that time to pay
a visit to her other friends, in order to secure herself from being again
too much attractedThis had been her motive in going to her cousin’sYates’s convenience had had nothing to do with itShe had been
allowing his attentions some time, but with very little idea of ever
accepting him; and had not her sister’s conduct burst forth as it did,
and her increased dread of her father and of home, on that event,
imagining its certain consequence to herself would be greater severity
and restraint, made her hastily resolve on avoiding such immediate
horrors at all risks, it is probable that MrYates would never have
succeededShe had not eloped with any worse feelings than those of
selfish alarmIt had appeared to her the only thing to be doneMaria’s
guilt had induced Julia’s folly
Henry Crawford, ruined by early independence and bad domestic
example, indulged in the freaks of a cold-blooded vanity a little
too longOnce it had, by an opening undesigned and unmerited,
led him into the way of happinessCould he have been satisfied
with the conquest of one amiable woman’s affections, could he have
found sufficient exultation in overcoming the reluctance, in working
himself into the esteem and tenderness of Fanny Price, there
would have been every probability of success and felicity for