MissCrawfordwasnotentirelyfreefromsimilarapprehensions，thoughtheyaroseprincipallyfromdoubtsofhersister’sstyleoflivingandtoneofsociety；
　　anditwasnottillaftershehadtriedinvaintopersuadeherbrothertosettlewithherathisowncountryhouse，thatshecouldresolvetohazardherselfamongherotherrelations。Toanythinglikeapermanenceofabode，orlimitationofsociety，HenryCrawfordhad，unluckily，agreatdislike：hecouldnotaccommodatehissisterinanarticleofsuchimportance；butheescortedher，withtheutmostkindness，intoNorthamptonshire，andasreadilyengagedtofetchherawayagain，athalfanhour’snotice，whenevershewerewearyoftheplace。
　　Themeetingwasverysatisfactoryoneachside。
　　MissCrawfordfoundasisterwithoutprecisenessorrusticity，asister’shusbandwholookedthegentleman，andahousecommodiousandwellfittedup；andMrs。Grantreceivedinthosewhomshehopedtolovebetterthaneverayoungmanandwomanofveryprepossessingappearance。
　　MaryCrawfordwasremarkablypretty；Henry，thoughnothandsome，hadairandcountenance；themannersofbothwerelivelyandpleasant，andMrs。Grantimmediatelygavethemcreditforeverythingelse。Shewasdelightedwitheach，butMarywasherdearestobject；andhavingneverbeenabletogloryinbeautyofherown，shethoroughlyenjoyedthepowerofbeingproudofhersister’s。Shehadnotwaitedherarrivaltolookoutforasuitablematchforher：
　　shehadfixedonTomBertram；theeldestsonofabaronetwasnottoogoodforagirloftwentythousandpounds，withalltheeleganceandaccomplishmentswhichMrs。Grantforesawinher；andbeingawarm-hearted，unreservedwoman，Maryhadnotbeenthreehoursinthehousebeforeshetoldherwhatshehadplanned。
　　MissCrawfordwasgladtofindafamilyofsuchconsequencesoverynearthem，andnotatalldispleasedeitherathersister’searlycare，orthechoiceithadfallenon。
　　Matrimonywasherobject，providedshecouldmarrywell：
　　andhavingseenMr。Bertramintown，sheknewthatobjectioncouldnomorebemadetohispersonthantohissituationinlife。Whileshetreateditasajoke，therefore，shedidnotforgettothinkofitseriously。
　　TheschemewassoonrepeatedtoHenry。
　　“Andnow，“addedMrs。Grant，“Ihavethoughtofsomethingtomakeitcomplete。Ishoulddearlylovetosettleyoubothinthiscountry；andtherefore，Henry，youshallmarrytheyoungestMissBertram，anice，handsome，good-humoured，accomplishedgirl，whowillmakeyouveryhappy。“
　　Henrybowedandthankedher。
　　“Mydearsister，“saidMary，“ifyoucanpersuadehimintoanythingofthesort，itwillbeafreshmatterofdelighttometofindmyselfalliedtoanybodysoclever，andIshallonlyregretthatyouhavenothalfadozendaughterstodisposeof。IfyoucanpersuadeHenrytomarry，youmusthavetheaddressofaFrenchwoman。
　　AllthatEnglishabilitiescandohasbeentriedalready。
　　Ihavethreeveryparticularfriendswhohavebeenalldyingforhimintheirturn；andthepainswhichthey，theirmothersverycleverwomen，aswellasmydearauntandmyself，havetakentoreason，coax，ortrickhimintomarrying，isinconceivable!Heisthemosthorribleflirtthatcanbeimagined。IfyourMissBertramsdonotliketohavetheirheartsbroke，letthemavoidHenry。“
　　“Mydearbrother，Iwillnotbelievethisofyou。“
　　“No，Iamsureyouaretoogood。YouwillbekinderthanMary。
　　Youwillallowforthedoubtsofyouthandinexperience。
　　Iamofacautioustemper，andunwillingtoriskmyhappinessinahurry。NobodycanthinkmorehighlyofthematrimonialstatethanmyselfIconsidertheblessingofawifeasmostjustlydescribedinthosediscreetlinesofthepoet——’Heaven’s_last_bestgift。’“
　　“There，Mrs。Grant，youseehowhedwellsononeword，andonlylookathissmile。Iassureyouheisverydetestable；
　　theAdmiral’slessonshavequitespoiledhim。“
　　“Ipayverylittleregard，“saidMrs。Grant，“towhatanyyoungpersonsaysonthesubjectofmarriage。
　　Iftheyprofessadisinclinationforit，Ionlysetitdownthattheyhavenotyetseentherightperson。“
　　Dr。GrantlaughinglycongratulatedMissCrawfordonfeelingnodisinclinationtothestateherself。
　　“Ohyes!Iamnotatallashamedofit。Iwouldhaveeverybodymarryiftheycandoitproperly：
　　Idonotliketohavepeoplethrowthemselvesaway；
　　buteverybodyshouldmarryassoonastheycandoittoadvantage。“
　　Chapter05CHAPTERV
　　Theyoungpeoplewerepleasedwitheachotherfromthefirst。Oneachsidetherewasmuchtoattract，andtheiracquaintancesoonpromisedasearlyanintimacyasgoodmannerswouldwarrant。MissCrawford’sbeautydidhernodisservicewiththeMissBertrams。
　　Theyweretoohandsomethemselvestodislikeanywomanforbeingsotoo，andwerealmostasmuchcharmedastheirbrotherswithherlivelydarkeye，clearbrowncomplexion，andgeneralprettiness。Hadshebeentall，fullformed，andfair，itmighthavebeenmoreofatrial：butasitwas，therecouldbenocomparison；andshewasmostallowablyasweet，prettygirl，whiletheywerethefinestyoungwomeninthecountry。
　　Herbrotherwasnothandsome：no，whentheyfirstsawhimhewasabsolutelyplain，blackandplain；butstillhewasthegentleman，withapleasingaddress。Thesecondmeetingprovedhimnotsoveryplain：hewasplain，tobesure，butthenhehadsomuchcountenance，andhisteethweresogood，andhewassowellmade，thatonesoonforgothewasplain；andafterathirdinterview，afterdiningincompanywithhimattheParsonage，hewasnolongerallowedtobecalledsobyanybody。
　　Hewas，infact，themostagreeableyoungmanthesistershadeverknown，andtheywereequallydelightedwithhim。
　　MissBertram’sengagementmadehiminequitythepropertyofJulia，ofwhichJuliawasfullyaware；andbeforehehadbeenatMansfieldaweek，shewasquitereadytobefalleninlovewith。
　　Maria’snotionsonthesubjectweremoreconfusedandindistinct。Shedidnotwanttoseeorunderstand。
　　“Therecouldbenoharminherlikinganagreeableman——
　　everybodyknewhersituation——Mr。Crawfordmusttakecareofhimself。“Mr。Crawforddidnotmeantobeinanydanger!
　　theMissBertramswereworthpleasing，andwerereadytobepleased；andhebeganwithnoobjectbutofmakingthemlikehim。Hedidnotwantthemtodieoflove；
　　butwithsenseandtemperwhichoughttohavemadehimjudgeandfeelbetter，heallowedhimselfgreatlatitudeonsuchpoints。
　　“IlikeyourMissBertramsexceedingly，sister，“saidhe，ashereturnedfromattendingthemtotheircarriageafterthesaiddinnervisit；“theyareveryelegant，agreeablegirls。“
　　“Sotheyareindeed，andIamdelightedtohearyousayit。
　　ButyoulikeJuliabest。“
　　“Ohyes!IlikeJuliabest。“
　　“Butdoyoureally？forMissBertramisingeneralthoughtthehandsomest。“
　　“SoIshouldsuppose。Shehastheadvantageineveryfeature，andIpreferhercountenance；butIlikeJuliabest；
　　MissBertramiscertainlythehandsomest，andIhavefoundherthemostagreeable，butIshallalwayslikeJuliabest，becauseyouorderme。“
　　“Ishallnottalktoyou，Henry，butIknowyou_will_
　　likeherbestatlast。“
　　“DonotItellyouthatIlikeherbest_at__first_？“
　　“Andbesides，MissBertramisengaged。Rememberthat，mydearbrother。Herchoiceismade。“
　　“Yes，andIlikeherthebetterforit。Anengagedwomanisalwaysmoreagreeablethanadisengaged。
　　Sheissatisfiedwithherself。Hercaresareover，andshefeelsthatshemayexertallherpowersofpleasingwithoutsuspicion。Allissafewithaladyengaged：
　　noharmcanbedone。“