Page:Austen - Mansfield Park, vol. II, 1814.djvu/14

 Thomas were over and he might be at leisure to be amused by it. The Crawfords laughed at the idea; and having soon agreed on the propriety of their walking quietly home and leaving the family to themselves, proposed Mr. Yates's accompanying them and spending the evening at the Parsonage. But Mr. Yates having never been with those who thought much of parental claims, or family confidence, could not perceive that any thing of the kind was necessary, and therefore, thanking them, said, "he preferred remaining where he was that he might pay his respects to the old gentleman handsomely since he was come; and besides, he did not think it would be fair by the others to have every body run away."

Fanny was just beginning to collect herself and to feel that if she staid longer behind it might seem disrespectful, when this point was settled, and being commissioned with the ther