Chapter XV

by Jane Austen

　　Miss Crawford accepted the part very readily; and soon afterMiss Bertram's return from the Parsonage, Mr. Rushwortharrived, and another character was consequently cast.He had the offer of Count Cassel and Anhalt, and at firstdid not know which to chuse, and wanted Miss Bertramto direct him; but upon being made to understand thedifferent style of the characters, and which was which,and recollecting that he had once seen the play in London,and had thought Anhalt a very stupid fellow, he soondecided for the Count. Miss Bertram approved the decision,for the less he had to learn the better; and though shecould not sympathise in his wish that the Count andAgatha might be to act together, nor wait very patientlywhile he was slowly turning over the leaves with the hopeof still discovering such a scene, she very kindly tookhis part in hand, and curtailed every speech that admittedbeing shortened; besides pointing out the necessityof his being very much dressed, and chusing his colours.Mr. Rushworth liked the idea of his finery very well,though affecting to despise it; and was too muchengaged with what his own appearance would be to thinkof the others, or draw any of those conclusions, or feelany of that displeasure which Maria had been half prepared for.Thus much was settled before Edmund, who had been out allthe morning, knew anything of the matter; but when heentered the drawing-room before dinner, the buzz ofdiscussion was high between Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates;and Mr. Rushworth stepped forward with great alacrityto tell him the agreeable news."We have got a play," said he. "It is to be Lovers'Vows; and I am to be Count Cassel, and am to comein first with a blue dress and a pink satin cloak,and afterwards am to have another fine fancy suit,by way of a shooting-dress. I do not know how I shall like it."Fanny's eyes followed Edmund, and her heart beat for himas she heard this speech, and saw his look, and feltwhat his sensations must be."Lovers' Vows!" in a tone of the greatest amazement,was his only reply to Mr. Rushworth, and he turnedtowards his brother and sisters as if hardly doubtinga contradiction."Yes," cried Mr. Yates. "After all our debatingsand difficulties, we find there is nothing that willsuit us altogether so well, nothing so unexceptionable,as Lovers' Vows. The wonder is that it should not have beenthought of before. My stupidity was abominable, for herewe have all the advantage of what I saw at Ecclesford;and it is so useful to have anything of a model!We have cast almost every part.""But what do you do for women?" said Edmund gravely,and looking at Maria.Maria blushed in spite of herself as she answered,"I take the part which Lady Ravenshaw was to have done,and" (with a bolder eye) "Miss Crawford is to be Amelia.""I should not have thought it the sort of play to be soeasily filled up, with _us_," replied Edmund, turning awayto the fire, where sat his mother, aunt, and Fanny,and seating himself with a look of great vexation.Mr. Rushworth followed him to say, "I come in three times,and have two-and-forty speeches. That's something,is not it? But I do not much like the idea of being so fine.I shall hardly know myself in a blue dress and a pinksatin cloak."Edmund could not answer him. In a few minutes Mr. Bertramwas called out of the room to satisfy some doubtsof the carpenter; and being accompanied by Mr. Yates,and followed soon afterwards by Mr. Rushworth, Edmund almostimmediately took the opportunity of saying, "I cannot,before Mr. Yates, speak what I feel as to this play,without reflecting on his friends at Ecclesford;but I must now, my dear Maria, tell _you_, that Ithink it exceedingly unfit for private representation,and that I hope you will give it up. I cannot but supposeyou _will_ when you have read it carefully over.Read only the first act aloud to either your mother or aunt,and see how you can approve it. It will not be necessaryto send you to your _father's_ judgment, I am convinced.""We see things very differently," cried Maria."I am perfectly acquainted with the play, I assure you;and with a very few omissions, and so forth, which willbe made, of course, I can see nothing objectionable in it;and _I_ am not the _only_ young woman you find who thinksit very fit for private representation.""I am sorry for it," was his answer; "but in this matterit is _you_ who are to lead. _You_ must set the example.If others have blundered, it is your place to putthem right, and shew them what true delicacy is.In all points of decorum _your_ conduct must be lawto the rest of the party."This picture of her consequence had some effect, for noone loved better to lead than Maria; and with far moregood-humour she answered, "I am much obliged to you, Edmund;you mean very well, I am sure: but I still think yousee things too strongly; and I really cannot undertaketo harangue all the rest upon a subject of this kind._There_ would be the greatest indecorum, I think.""Do you imagine that I could have such an idea inmy head? No; let your conduct be the only harangue.Say that, on examining the part, you feel yourselfunequal to it; that you find it requiring more exertionand confidence than you can be supposed to have.Say this with firmness, and it will be quite enough.All who can distinguish will understand your motive.The play will be given up, and your delicacy honoured asit ought.""Do not act anything improper, my dear," said Lady Bertram."Sir Thomas would not like it.--Fanny, ring the bell;I must have my dinner.--To be sure, Julia is dressed bythis time.""I am convinced, madam," said Edmund, preventing Fanny,"that Sir Thomas would not like it.""There, my dear, do you hear what Edmund says?""If I were to decline the part," said Maria,with renewed zeal, "Julia would certainly take it.""What!" cried Edmund, "if she knew your reasons!""Oh! she might think the difference between us--the difference in our situations--that _she_ neednot be so scrupulous as _I_ might feel necessary.I am sure she would argue so. No; you must excuse me;I cannot retract my consent; it is too far settled,everybody would be so disappointed, Tom would be quite angry;and if we are so very nice, we shall never act anything.""I was just going to say the very same thing," said Mrs. Norris."If every play is to be objected to, you will act nothing,and the preparations will be all so much money thrown away,and I am sure _that_ would be a discredit to us all.I do not know the play; but, as Maria says, if thereis anything a little too warm (and it is so with mostof them) it can be easily left out. We must not beover-precise, Edmund. As Mr. Rushworth is to act too,there can be no harm. I only wish Tom had known his ownmind when the carpenters began, for there was the lossof half a day's work about those side-doors. The curtainwill be a good job, however. The maids do their workvery well, and I think we shall be able to send backsome dozens of the rings. There is no occasion to putthem so very close together. I _am_ of some use, I hope,in preventing waste and making the most of things.There should always be one steady head to superintendso many young ones. I forgot to tell Tom of somethingthat happened to me this very day. I had been lookingabout me in the poultry-yard, and was just coming out,when who should I see but Dick Jackson making upto the servants' hall-door with two bits of deal boardin his hand, bringing them to father, you may be sure;mother had chanced to send him of a message to father,and then father had bid him bring up them two bits of board,for he could not no how do without them. I knew what allthis meant, for the servants' dinner-bell was ringingat the very moment over our heads; and as I hate suchencroaching people (the Jacksons are very encroaching,I have always said so: just the sort of people to getall they can), I said to the boy directly (a great lubberlyfellow of ten years old, you know, who ought to be ashamedof himself), "_I'll_ take the boards to your father,Dick, so get you home again as fast as you can."The boy looked very silly, and turned away withoutoffering a word, for I believe I might speak pretty sharp;and I dare say it will cure him of coming maraudingabout the house for one while. I hate such greediness--so good as your father is to the family, employing the manall the year round!"Nobody was at the trouble of an answer; the otherssoon returned; and Edmund found that to have endeavouredto set them right must be his only satisfaction.Dinner passed heavily. Mrs. Norris related againher triumph over Dick Jackson, but neither play norpreparation were otherwise much talked of, for Edmund'sdisapprobation was felt even by his brother, though hewould not have owned it. Maria, wanting Henry Crawford'sanimating support, thought the subject better avoided.Mr. Yates, who was trying to make himself agreeable to Julia,found her gloom less impenetrable on any topic thanthat of his regret at her secession from their company;and Mr. Rushworth, having only his own part and his owndress in his head, had soon talked away all that couldbe said of either.But the concerns of the theatre were suspended only for anhour or two: there was still a great deal to be settled;and the spirits of evening giving fresh courage, Tom, Maria,and Mr. Yates, soon after their being reassembledin the drawing-room, seated themselves in committeeat a separate table, with the play open before them,and were just getting deep in the subject when a mostwelcome interruption was given by the entrance of Mr. andMiss Crawford, who, late and dark and dirty as it was,could not help coming, and were received with the most gratefuljoy."Well, how do you go on?" and "What have you settled?"and "Oh! we can do nothing without you," followed thefirst salutations; and Henry Crawford was soon seatedwith the other three at the table, while his sister madeher way to Lady Bertram, and with pleasant attentionwas complimenting _her_. "I must really congratulateyour ladyship," said she, "on the play being chosen;for though you have borne it with exemplary patience, I amsure you must be sick of all our noise and difficulties.The actors may be glad, but the bystanders must be infinitelymore thankful for a decision; and I do sincerely giveyou joy, madam, as well as Mrs. Norris, and everybody elsewho is in the same predicament," glancing half fearfully,half slyly, beyond Fanny to Edmund.She was very civilly answered by Lady Bertram,but Edmund said nothing. His being only a bystander wasnot disclaimed. After continuing in chat with the partyround the fire a few minutes, Miss Crawford returnedto the party round the table; and standing by them,seemed to interest herself in their arrangements till,as if struck by a sudden recollection, she exclaimed,"My good friends, you are most composedly at work uponthese cottages and alehouses, inside and out; but pray letme know my fate in the meanwhile. Who is to be Anhalt?What gentleman among you am I to have the pleasure of makinglove to?"For a moment no one spoke; and then many spoke togetherto tell the same melancholy truth, that they had not yetgot any Anhalt. "Mr. Rushworth was to be Count Cassel,but no one had yet undertaken Anhalt.""I had my choice of the parts," said Mr. Rushworth;"but I thought I should like the Count best, though I donot much relish the finery I am to have.""You chose very wisely, I am sure," replied Miss Crawford,with a brightened look; "Anhalt is a heavy part.""_The_ _Count_ has two-and-forty speeches,"returned Mr. Rushworth, "which is no trifle.""I am not at all surprised," said Miss Crawford,after a short pause, "at this want of an Anhalt.Amelia deserves no better. Such a forward young ladymay well frighten the men.""I should be but too happy in taking the part, if itwere possible," cried Tom; "but, unluckily, the Butlerand Anhalt are in together. I will not entirely giveit up, however; I will try what can be done--I will lookit over again.""Your _brother_ should take the part," said Mr. Yates,in a low voice. "Do not you think he would?""_I_ shall not ask him," replied Tom, in a cold,determined manner.Miss Crawford talked of something else, and soon afterwardsrejoined the party at the fire."They do not want me at all," said she, seating herself."I only puzzle them, and oblige them to make civil speeches.Mr. Edmund Bertram, as you do not act yourself,you will be a disinterested adviser; and, therefore,I apply to _you_. What shall we do for an Anhalt?Is it practicable for any of the others to double it?What is your advice?""My advice," said he calmly, "is that you change the play.""_I_ should have no objection," she replied; "for thoughI should not particularly dislike the part of Ameliaif well supported, that is, if everything went well,I shall be sorry to be an inconvenience; but as theydo not chuse to hear your advice at _that_ _table_"(looking round), "it certainly will not be taken."Edmund said no more."If _any_ part could tempt _you_ to act, I suppose it wouldbe Anhalt," observed the lady archly, after a short pause;"for he is a clergyman, you know.""_That_ circumstance would by no means tempt me,"he replied, "for I should be sorry to make the characterridiculous by bad acting. It must be very difficultto keep Anhalt from appearing a formal, solemn lecturer;and the man who chuses the profession itself is, perhaps,one of the last who would wish to represent it on the stage."Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of resentmentand mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer thetea-table, and gave all her attention to Mrs. Norris, who waspresiding there."Fanny," cried Tom Bertram, from the other table,where the conference was eagerly carrying on, and theconversation incessant, "we want your services"Fanny was up in a moment, expecting some errand; for thehabit of employing her in that way was not yet overcome,in spite of all that Edmund could do."Oh! we do not want to disturb you from your seat.We do not want your _present_ services. We shall only wantyou in our play. You must be Cottager's wife.""Me!" cried Fanny, sitting down again with a most frightened look."Indeed you must excuse me. I could not act anythingif you were to give me the world. No, indeed, I cannot act.""Indeed, but you must, for we cannot excuse you.It need not frighten you: it is a nothing of a part,a mere nothing, not above half a dozen speeches altogether,and it will not much signify if nobody hears a word you say;so you may be as creep-mouse as you like, but we must haveyou to look at.""If you are afraid of half a dozen speeches," cried Mr. Rushworth,"what would you do with such a part as mine? I have forty-two tolearn.""It is not that I am afraid of learning by heart,"said Fanny, shocked to find herself at that moment theonly speaker in the room, and to feel that almost everyeye was upon her; "but I really cannot act.""Yes, yes, you can act well enough for _us_.Learn your part, and we will teach you all the rest.You have only two scenes, and as I shall be Cottager,I'll put you in and push you about, and you will do itvery well, I'll answer for it.""No, indeed, Mr. Bertram, you must excuse me. You cannothave an idea. It would be absolutely impossible for me.If I were to undertake it, I should only disappoint you.""Phoo! Phoo! Do not be so shamefaced. You'll do itvery well. Every allowance will be made for you.We do not expect perfection. You must get a brown gown,and a white apron, and a mob cap, and we must makeyou a few wrinkles, and a little of the crowsfoot atthe corner of your eyes, and you will be a very proper,little old woman.""You must excuse me, indeed you must excuse me," cried Fanny,growing more and more red from excessive agitation,and looking distressfully at Edmund, who was kindlyobserving her; but unwilling to exasperate his brotherby interference, gave her only an encouraging smile.Her entreaty had no effect on Tom: he only said againwhat he had said before; and it was not merely Tom,for the requisition was now backed by Maria, and Mr. Crawford,and Mr. Yates, with an urgency which differed fromhis but in being more gentle or more ceremonious,and which altogether was quite overpowering to Fanny;and before she could breathe after it, Mrs. Norris completedthe whole by thus addressing her in a whisper at once angryand audible--"What a piece of work here is about nothing:I am quite ashamed of you, Fanny, to make such a difficultyof obliging your cousins in a trifle of this sort--so kindas they are to you! Take the part with a good grace,and let us hear no more of the matter, I entreat.""Do not urge her, madam," said Edmund. "It is not fair tourge her in this manner. You see she does not like to act.Let her chuse for herself, as well as the rest of us.Her judgment may be quite as safely trusted. Do not urgeher any more.""I am not going to urge her," replied Mrs. Norris sharply;"but I shall think her a very obstinate, ungrateful girl,if she does not do what her aunt and cousins wish her--very ungrateful, indeed, considering who and what she is."Edmund was too angry to speak; but Miss Crawford,looking for a moment with astonished eyes at Mrs. Norris,and then at Fanny, whose tears were beginning to shewthemselves, immediately said, with some keenness, "I donot like my situation: this _place_ is too hot for me,"and moved away her chair to the opposite side of the table,close to Fanny, saying to her, in a kind, low whisper,as she placed herself, "Never mind, my dear Miss Price,this is a cross evening: everybody is cross and teasing,but do not let us mind them"; and with pointed attentioncontinued to talk to her and endeavour to raise her spirits,in spite of being out of spirits herself. By a look ather brother she prevented any farther entreaty from thetheatrical board, and the really good feelings by which shewas almost purely governed were rapidly restoring herto all the little she had lost in Edmund's favour.Fanny did not love Miss Crawford; but she felt very muchobliged to her for her present kindness; and when,from taking notice of her work, and wishing _she_ couldwork as well, and begging for the pattern, and supposingFanny was now preparing for her _appearance_, as ofcourse she would come out when her cousin was married,Miss Crawford proceeded to inquire if she had heard latelyfrom her brother at sea, and said that she had quitea curiosity to see him, and imagined him a very fineyoung man, and advised Fanny to get his picture drawnbefore he went to sea again--she could not help admittingit to be very agreeable flattery, or help listening,and answering with more animation than she had intended.The consultation upon the play still went on, and MissCrawford's attention was first called from Fanny by TomBertram's telling her, with infinite regret, that hefound it absolutely impossible for him to undertake thepart of Anhalt in addition to the Butler: he had beenmost anxiously trying to make it out to be feasible,but it would not do; he must give it up. "But there willnot be the smallest difficulty in filling it," he added."We have but to speak the word; we may pick and chuse.I could name, at this moment, at least six young men withinsix miles of us, who are wild to be admitted into our company,and there are one or two that would not disgrace us:I should not be afraid to trust either of the Oliversor Charles Maddox. Tom Oliver is a very clever fellow,and Charles Maddox is as gentlemanlike a man as you willsee anywhere, so I will take my horse early to-morrowmorning and ride over to Stoke, and settle with oneof them."While he spoke, Maria was looking apprehensively roundat Edmund in full expectation that he must oppose suchan enlargement of the plan as this: so contrary to alltheir first protestations; but Edmund said nothing.After a moment's thought, Miss Crawford calmly replied,"As far as I am concerned, I can have no objection toanything that you all think eligible. Have I ever seeneither of the gentlemen? Yes, Mr. Charles Maddox dinedat my sister's one day, did not he, Henry? A quiet-lookingyoung man. I remember him. Let _him_ be applied to,if you please, for it will be less unpleasant to me thanto have a perfect stranger."Charles Maddox was to be the man. Tom repeated his resolutionof going to him early on the morrow; and though Julia,who had scarcely opened her lips before, observed, in asarcastic manner, and with a glance first at Maria and thenat Edmund, that "the Mansfield theatricals would enliventhe whole neighbourhood exceedingly," Edmund still heldhis peace, and shewed his feelings only by a determined gravity."I am not very sanguine as to our play," said Miss Crawford,in an undervoice to Fanny, after some consideration;"and I can tell Mr. Maddox that I shall shorten someof _his_ speeches, and a great many of _my_ _own_,before we rehearse together. It will be very disagreeable,and by no means what I expected."