Page:Austen - Mansfield Park, vol. I, 1814.djvu/290

 than even Agatha. I consider Amelia as the most difficult character in the whole piece. It requires great powers, great nicety, to give her playfulness and simplicity without extravagance. I have seen good actresses fail in the part. Simplicity, indeed, is beyond the reach of almost every actress by profession. It requires a delicacy of feeling which they have not. It requires a gentlewoman—a Julia Bertram. You will undertake it I hope?" Turning to her with a look of anxious entreaty which softened her a little; but while she hesitated what to say, her brother again interposed with Miss Crawford's better claim.

"No, no, Julia must not be Amelia. It is not at all the part for her. She would not like it. She would not do well. She is too tall and robust. Ameha should be a small, light, girlish, skipping figure. It is fit for Miss Crawford and Miss Crawford only. She looks the