 the past, you will consider times, persons, and probabilities, and you
will feel that they were not least your friends who were educating and preparing
you for that mediocrity of condition which seemed to be your lot. - Though their
caution may prove eventually unnecessary, it was kindly meant; and of this you
may be assured, that every advantage of affluence will be doubled by the little
privations and restrictions that may have been imposed. I am sure you will not
disappoint my opinion of you, by failing at any time to treat your aunt Norris
with the respect and attention that are due to her. - But enough of this. Sit
down, my dear. I must speak to you for a few minutes, but I will not detain you
long.«
    Fanny obeyed, with eyes cast down and colour rising. - After a moment's
pause, Sir Thomas, trying to suppress a smile, went on.
    »You are not aware, perhaps, that I have had a visitor this morning. - I had
not been long in my own room, after breakfast, when Mr. Crawford was shewn in. -
His errand you may probably conjecture.«
    Fanny's colour grew deeper and deeper; and her uncle perceiving that she was
embarrassed to a degree that made either speaking or looking up quite
impossible, turned away his own eyes, and without any farther pause, proceeded
in his account of Mr. Crawford's visit.
    Mr. Crawford's business had been to declare himself the lover of Fanny, make
decided proposals for her, and intreat the sanction of the uncle, who seemed to
stand in the place of her parents; and he had done it all so well, so openly, so
liberally, so properly, that Sir Thomas, feeling, moreover, his own replies, and
his own remarks to have been very much to the purpose - was exceedingly happy to
give the particulars of their conversation - and, little aware of what was
passing in his niece's mind, conceived that by such details he must be
gratifying her far more than himself. He talked therefore for several minutes
without Fanny's daring to interrupt him. - She had hardly even attained the wish
to do it. Her mind was in too much confusion. She had changed her position, and
with her eyes fixed intently on one of the windows, was listening to her uncle,
in the utmost perturbation and dismay. - For a moment he ceased, but she had
barely become conscious of it, when, rising from his chair, he said, »And
