I am now, I
have no influence, I can do nothing; I have offended them, and they will not
hear me; but when I have put them in good humour by this concession, I am not
without hopes of persuading them to confine the representation within a much
smaller circle than they are now in the high road for. This will be a material
gain. My object is to confine it to Mrs. Rushworth and the Grants. Will not this
be worth gaining?«
    »Yes, it will be a great point.«
    »But still it has not your approbation. Can you mention any other measure by
which I have a chance of doing equal good?«
    »No, I cannot think of any thing else.«
    »Give me your approbation, then, Fanny. I am not comfortable without it.«
    »Oh! cousin.«
    »If you are against me, I ought to distrust myself - and yet - But it is
absolutely impossible to let Tom go on in this way, riding about the country in
quest of any body who can be persuaded to act - no matter whom; the look of a
gentleman is to be enough. I thought you would have entered more into Miss
Crawford's feelings.«
    »No doubt she will be very glad. It must be a great relief to her,« said
Fanny, trying for greater warmth of manner.
    »She never appeared more amiable than in her behaviour to you last night. It
gave her a very strong claim on my good will.«
    »She was very kind indeed, and I am glad to have her spared.« ...
    She could not finish the generous effusion. Her conscience stopt her in the
middle, but Edmund was satisfied.
    »I shall walk down immediately after breakfast,« said he, »and am sure of
giving pleasure there. And now, dear Fanny, I will not interrupt you any longer.
You want to be reading. But I could not be easy till I had spoken to you, and
come to a decision. Sleeping or waking, my head has been full of this matter all
night. It is an evil - but I am certainly making it less than it might be. If
Tom is up, I shall go to him directly and get it over; and when we meet at
breakfast we shall be all in high good humour at the prospect of acting the fool
together with such unanimity. You in the meanwhile will be taking a trip into
China, I suppose. How does Lord Macartney go on? -