Rushworth could seldom
get anybody to rehearse with him: his complaint came before
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Jane Austen
her as well as the rest; and so decided to her eye was her cousin
Maria?s avoidance of him, and so needlessly often the rehearsal of
the first scene between her and MrCrawford, that she had soon all
the terror of other complaints from himSo far from being all satisfied
and all enjoying, she found everybody requiring something they
had not, and giving occasion of discontent to the othersEverybody
had a part either too long or too short; nobody would attend as they
ought; nobody would remember on which side they were to come
in; nobody but the complainer would observe any directions
Fanny believed herself to derive as much innocent enjoyment from
the play as any of them; Henry Crawford acted well, and it was a
pleasure to her to creep into the theatre, and attend the rehearsal of
the first act, in spite of the feelings it excited in some speeches for
MariaMaria, she also thought, acted well, too well; and after the
first rehearsal or two, Fanny began to be their only audience; and
sometimes as prompter, sometimes as spectator, was often very useful
As far as she could judge, MrCrawford was considerably the
best actor of all: he had more confidence than Edmund, more judgment
than Tom, more talent and taste than MrShe did not
like him as a man, but she must admit him to be the best actor, and
on this point there were not many who differed from herYates,
indeed, exclaimed against his tameness and insipidity; and the day
came at last, when MrRushworth turned to her with a http://www.ttluxury.com/categorys_32_Deville_1.html" target="_blank black look,
and said, ?Do you think there is anything so very fine in all this? For
the life and soul of me, I cannot admire him; and, between ourselves,
to see such an undersized, little, mean-looking man, set up
for a fine actor, is very ridiculous in my opinion
From this moment there was a return of his former jealousy, which
Maria, from increasing hopes of Crawford, was at little pains to
remove; and the chances of MrRushworth?s ever attaining to the
knowledge of his two-and-forty speeches became much lessAs to
his ever making anything tolerable of them, nobody had the smallest
idea of that except his mother; she, indeed, regretted that his part
was not more considerable, and deferred coming over to Mansfield
till they were forward enough in their rehearsal to comprehend all
his scenes; but the others aspired at nothing beyond his remembering
the catchword, and the first line of his speech, and being able to
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follow the prompter through the restFanny, in her pity and kindheartedness,
was at great pains to teach him how to learn, giving
him all the helps and directions in her power, trying to make an
artificial memory for him, and learning every word of his part herself,
but without his being much the forwarder
Many uncomfortable, anxious, apprehensive feelings she certainly had;
but with all these, and other claims on her time and attention, she was
as far from finding herself without employment or utility amongst them,
as without a companion in uneasiness; quite as far from having no
demand on her leisure as on her compassionThe gloom of http://www.ttluxury.com/categorys_28_Aqua-Terra-_1.html" target="_blank her first
anticipations was proved to have been unfoundedShe was occasionally
useful to all; she was perhaps as much at peace as any
There was a great deal of needlework to be done, moreover, in
which her help was wanted; and that MrsNorris thought her quite
as well off as the rest, was evident by the manner in which she claimed
it??Come, Fanny,? she cried, ?these are fine times for you, but you
must not be always walking from one room to the other, and doing
the lookings-on at your ease, in this way; I want you hereI have
been slaving myself till I can hardly stand, to contrive Mr
Rushworth?s cloak without sending for any more satin; and now I
think you may give me your help in putting it togetherThere are
but three seams; you may do them in a triceIt would be lucky for
me if I had nothing but the executive part to doYou are best off, I
can tell you: but if nobody did more than you, we should not get on
very fast?
Fanny took the work very quietly, without attempting any defence;
but her kinder aunt Bertram observed on her behalf?
?One cannot wonder, sister, that Fanny should be delighted: it is
all new to her, you know; you and I used to be very fond of a play
ourselves, and so am I still; and as soon as I am a little more at
leisure, I mean to look in at their rehearsals tooWhat is the play
about, Fanny? you have never told me
?Oh! sister, pray do not ask her now; for Fanny is not one of those
who can talk and work at the same timeIt is about Lovers? Vows
?I believe,? said Fanny to her aunt Bertram, ?there will be three
acts rehearsed to-morrow evening, and that http://www.ttluxury.com/categorys_105_Chanel-Earrings_1.html" target="_blank will give you an opportunity
of seeing all the actors at once
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Jane Austen
?You had better stay till the curtain is hung,? interposed Mrs
Norris; ?the curtain will be hung in a day or two?there is very little
sense in a play without a curtain?and I am much mistaken if you
do not find it draw up into very handsome festoons
Lady Bertram seemed quite resigned to waitingFanny did not
share her aunt?s composure: she thought of the morrow a great deal,
for if the three acts were rehearsed, Edmund and Miss Crawford
would then be acting together for the first time; the third act would
bring a scene between them which interested her most particularly,
and which she was longing and dreading to see how they would
performThe whole subject of it was love?a marriage of love was
to be described by the gentleman, and very little short of a declaration
of love be made by the lady
She had read and read the scene again with many painful, many
wondering emotions, and looked forward to their representation of
it as a circumstance almost too interestingShe did not believe they
had yet rehearsed it, even in private
The morrow came, the plan for the evening continued, and Fanny?s
consideration of it did not become less agitatedShe worked very
diligently under her aunt?s directions, but her diligence and her silence
concealed a very absent, anxious mind; and about noon she
made her escape with her work to the East room, that she might have
no concern in another, and, as she deemed it, most unnecessary rehearsal
of the first act, which Henry Crawford was just proposing,
desirous at http://www.ttluxury.com/scategory_28_Omega-Watches.html" target="_blank once of having her time to herself, and of avoiding the
sight of MrA glimpse, as she passed through the hall, of
the two ladies walking up from the Parsonage made no change in her
wish of retreat, and she worked and meditated in the East room, undisturbed,
for a quarter of an hour, when a gentle tap at the door was
followed by the entrance of Miss Crawford
?Am I right? Yes; this is the East roomMy dear Miss Price, I beg
your pardon, but I have made my way to you on purpose to entreat
your help
Fanny, quite surprised, endeavoured to shew herself mistress of
the room by her civilities, and looked at the bright bars of her empty
grate with concern
?Thank you; I am quite warm, very warmAllow me to stay here
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Mansfield Park
a little while, and do have the goodness to hear me my third actI
have brought my book, and if you would but rehearse it with me, I
should be so obliged! I came here to-day intending to rehearse it
with Edmund?by ourselves?against the evening, but he is not in
the way; and if he were, I do not think I could go through it with
him, till I have hardened myself a little; for really there is a speech or
twoYou will be so good, won?t you??
Fanny was most civil in her assurances, though she could not give
them in a very steady voice
?Have you ever happened to look at the part I mean?? continued
Miss Crawford, opening her bookI did not think much
of it at first?but, upon my wordThere, look at that speech, and
that, and thatHow am I ever to look him in the face and say such
things? Could you do it? But then he is your cousin, which makes
all the http://www.ttluxury.com/categorys_3_Monogram-Canvas_1.html" target="_blank difference