Chapter 34 Summary
Edmund returns to Mansfield Park. Upon his arrival, he meets Mary and Henry. To his surprise, Mary is extremely cordial to him, which pleases him more than he could have imagined. He had stayed away, had extended his visit, in order to come home and find Mary gone. When last they had been together, they had not enjoyed one another's company. Edmund thought this meant that their relationship was over, but now his hopes are renewed.
When Edmund has time to talk to his family, he is overjoyed to hear that Fanny’s brother William has been appointed a lieutenant. But when his father tells him about Fanny and her rejection of Henry Crawford’s proposal of marriage, Edmund experiences another type of surprise. He does not understand how Fanny could have refused. Edmund tries to interpret the reason for Fanny’s decision. Maybe, he thinks, Henry has progressed too quickly. Fanny is a very thoughtful woman. Possibly she needs more time to consider Henry’s intentions. There is a chance that Fanny merely needs to get to know Henry better.
The Bertrams invite Henry to dinner. While the family is eating, Edmund observes Henry and the attention he pays to Fanny. Although Edmund believes Fanny is worthy of Henry’s persistence, Edmund does not know where Henry finds his patience. If it were he, Edmund, who were pursuing Fanny and had to endure Fanny’s determination to resist, Edmund thinks he would surely give up. But Henry does not. Edmund thinks Henry’s constancy might, in the end, win Fanny’s hand.
After dinner, Edmund and Henry join Lady Bertram and Fanny, who are reading Shakespeare. When the gentlemen enter the room, Fanny stops reading. When Henry discovers this, he picks up the book and recites from one of Shakespeare’s plays. Almost against her will, Fanny is drawn in. Henry is very gifted in his delivery and expresses each character’s lines as if he were on stage. Edmund watches as Fanny’s attitude changes from indifference and annoyance to one of pure interest. But when Henry is finished reading, Fanny withdraws again. Henry attempts to pull her attention back to him, but he fails.
Edmund engages Henry in a discussion about the gift of dramatic elocution. Edmund says he could use some coaching from Henry in preparation for delivering sermons when he is installed in a parish church. Henry states that he had, from time to time, often wanted to give sermons, but his would have to be in a London church with an audience of educated people. When Fanny shakes her head at him, betraying her criticism of his statement, Henry begs her to tell him what she thinks. Fanny reluctantly tells him it is a pity that he does not always know himself.
Henry disagrees. He says he knows himself well enough to state he will always love her. He also declares that the only man worthy to marry her is one who worships her as much as he does.
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