Page:Austen - Mansfield Park, vol. I, 1814.djvu/317

 wishing she could work as well, and begging for the pattern, and supposing Fanny was now preparing for her appearance as of course she would come out when her cousin was married, Miss Crawford proceeded to enquire if she had heard lately from her brother at sea, and said that she had quite a curiosity to see him, and imagined him a very fine young man, and advised Fanny to get his picture drawn before he went to sea again—She could not help admitting it to be very agreeable flattery, or help listening, and answering with more animation than she had intended.

The consultation upon the play still went on, and Miss Crawford's attention was first called from Fanny by Tom Bertram's telling her, with infinite regret, that he found it absolutely impossible for him to undertake the part of Anhalt in addition to the Butler;—he had been most anxiously trying to make it out to be feasible,—but it would not do,—he must give it up.—"But there will not be