him a brain which nature had denied - to mix up an understanding for him
out of the superfluity of your own! He might not have sense enough himself to
estimate your kindness, but I may venture to say that it had honour from all the
rest of the party.«
    Fanny coloured, and said nothing.
    »It is as a dream, a pleasant dream!« he exclaimed, breaking forth again
after few minutes musing. »I shall always look back on our theatricals with
exquisite pleasure. There was such an interest, such an animation, such a spirit
diffused! Every body felt it. We were all alive. There was employment, hope,
solicitude, bustle, for every hour of the day. Always some little objection,
some little doubt, some little anxiety to be got over. I never was happier.«
    With silent indignation, Fanny repeated to herself, »Never happier! - never
happier than when doing what you must know was not justifiable! - never happier
than when behaving so dishonourably and unfeelingly! - Oh! what a corrupted
mind!«
    »We were unlucky, Miss Price,« he continued in a lower tone, to avoid the
possibility of being heard by Edmund, and not at all aware of her feelings, »we
certainly were very unlucky. Another week, only one other week, would have been
enough for us. I think if we had had the disposal of events - if Mansfield Park
had had the government of the winds just for a week or two about the equinox,
there would have been a difference. Not that we would have endangered his safety
by any tremendous weather - but only by a steady contrary wind, or a calm. I
think, Miss Price, we would have indulged ourselves with a week's calm in the
Atlantic at that season.«
    He seemed determined to be answered; and Fanny, averting her face, said with
a firmer tone than usual, »As far as I am concerned, sir, I would not have
delayed his return for a day. My uncle disapproved it all so entirely when he
did arrive, that in my opinion, every thing had gone quite far enough.«
    She had never spoken so much at once to him in her life before, and never so
angrily to any one; and when her speech was over, she trembled and blushed at
her own daring. He was surprized; but after a few moments silent consideration
of her, replied in a calmer, graver tone, and as if the candid result of
conviction, »I believe you are right.