 looked so beautiful under the influence of such a sky, the
effects of the shadows pursuing each other, on the ships at Spithead and the
island beyond, with the ever-varying hues of the sea now at high water, dancing
in its glee and dashing against the ramparts with so fine a sound, produced
altogether such a combination of charms for Fanny, as made her gradually almost
careless of the circumstances under which she felt them. Nay, had she been
without his arm, she would soon have known that she needed it, for she wanted
strength for a two hours' saunter of this kind, coming as it generally did upon
a week's previous inactivity. Fanny was beginning to feel the effect of being
debarred from her usual, regular exercise; she had lost ground as to health
since her being in Portsmouth, and but for Mr. Crawford and the beauty of the
weather, would soon have been knocked up now.
    The loveliness of the day, and of the view, he felt like herself. They often
stopt with the same sentiment and taste, leaning against the wall, some minutes,
to look and admire; and considering he was not Edmund, Fanny could not but allow
that he was sufficiently open to the charms of nature, and very well able to
express his admiration. She had a few tender reveries now and then, which he
could sometimes take advantage of, to look in her face without detection; and
the result of these looks was, that though as bewitching as ever, her face was
less blooming than it ought to be. - She said she was very well, and did not
like to be supposed otherwise; but take it all in all, he was convinced that her
present residence could not be comfortable, and, therefore, could not be
salutary for her, and he was growing anxious for her being again at Mansfield,
where her own happiness, and his in seeing her, must be so much greater.
    »You have been here a month, I think?« said he.
    »No. Not quite a month. - It is only four weeks to-morrow since I left
Mansfield.«
    »You are a most accurate and honest reckoner. I should call that a month.«
    »I did not arrive here till Tuesday evening.«
    »And it is to be a two months' visit, is not it?«
    »Yes. - My uncle talked of two months. I suppose it will not be less.«
    »And how are you to be conveyed back again? Who comes for you?
