Nowtheycametoanunderstanding。Mrs。Price，itappeared，scarcelyeverstirredoutofdoors，exceptofaSunday；
　　sheownedshecouldseldom，withherlargefamily，findtimeforawalk。“Wouldshenot，then，persuadeherdaughterstotakeadvantageofsuchweather，andallowhimthepleasureofattendingthem？“Mrs。Pricewasgreatlyobligedandverycomplying。“Herdaughterswereverymuchconfined；Portsmouthwasasadplace；
　　theydidnotoftengetout；andsheknewtheyhadsomeerrandsinthetown，whichtheywouldbeverygladtodo。“
　　Andtheconsequencewas，thatFanny，strangeasitwas——
　　strange，awkward，anddistressing——foundherselfandSusan，withintenminutes，walkingtowardstheHighStreetwithMr。Crawford。
　　Itwassoonpainuponpain，confusionuponconfusion；
　　fortheywerehardlyintheHighStreetbeforetheymetherfather，whoseappearancewasnotthebetterfromitsbeingSaturday。Hestopt；and，ungentlemanlikeashelooked，FannywasobligedtointroducehimtoMr。Crawford。
　　ShecouldnothaveadoubtofthemannerinwhichMr。Crawfordmustbestruck。Hemustbeashamedanddisgustedaltogether。Hemustsoongiveherup，andceasetohavethesmallestinclinationforthematch；
　　andyet，thoughshehadbeensomuchwantinghisaffectiontobecured，thiswasasortofcurethatwouldbealmostasbadasthecomplaint；andIbelievethereisscarcelyayoungladyintheUnitedKingdomswhowouldnotratherputupwiththemisfortuneofbeingsoughtbyaclever，agreeableman，thanhavehimdrivenawaybythevulgarityofhernearestrelations。
　　Mr。Crawfordprobablycouldnotregardhisfuturefather-in-lawwithanyideaoftakinghimforamodelindress；butasFannyinstantly，andtohergreatrelief，discernedherfatherwasaverydifferentman，averydifferentMr。Priceinhisbehaviourtothismosthighlyrespectedstranger，fromwhathewasinhisownfamilyathome。Hismannersnow，thoughnotpolished，weremorethanpassable：theyweregrateful，animated，manly；
　　hisexpressionswerethoseofanattachedfather，andasensibleman；hisloudtonesdidverywellintheopenair，andtherewasnotasingleoathtobeheard。
　　SuchwashisinstinctivecomplimenttothegoodmannersofMr。Crawford；and，betheconsequencewhatitmight，Fanny’simmediatefeelingswereinfinitelysoothed。
　　Theconclusionofthetwogentlemen’scivilitieswasanofferofMr。Price’stotakeMr。Crawfordintothedockyard，whichMr。Crawford，desirousofacceptingasafavourwhatwasintendedassuch，thoughhehadseenthedockyardagainandagain，andhopingtobesomuchthelongerwithFanny，wasverygratefullydisposedtoavailhimselfof，iftheMissPriceswerenotafraidofthefatigue；
　　andasitwassomehoworotherascertained，orinferred，oratleastactedupon，thattheywerenotatallafraid，tothedockyardtheywerealltogo；andbutforMr。Crawford，Mr。Pricewouldhaveturnedthitherdirectly，withoutthesmallestconsiderationforhisdaughters’
　　errandsintheHighStreet。Hetookcare，however，thattheyshouldbeallowedtogototheshopstheycameoutexpresslytovisit；anditdidnotdelaythemlong，forFannycouldsolittlebeartoexciteimpatience，orbewaitedfor，thatbeforethegentlemen，astheystoodatthedoor，coulddomorethanbeginuponthelastnavalregulations，orsettlethenumberofthree-deckersnowincommission，theircompanionswerereadytoproceed。
　　Theywerethentosetforwardforthedockyardatonce，andthewalkwouldhavebeenconducted——accordingtoMr。Crawford’sopinion——inasingularmanner，hadMr。Pricebeenallowedtheentireregulationofit，asthetwogirls，hefound，wouldhavebeenlefttofollow，andkeepupwiththemornot，astheycould，whiletheywalkedontogetherattheirownhastypace。
　　Hewasabletointroducesomeimprovementoccasionally，thoughbynomeanstotheextenthewished；heabsolutelywouldnotwalkawayfromthem；andatanycrossingoranycrowd，whenMr。Pricewasonlycallingout，“Come，girls；come，Fan；come，Sue，takecareofyourselves；
　　keepasharplookout!“hewouldgivethemhisparticularattendance。
　　Oncefairlyinthedockyard，hebegantoreckonuponsomehappyintercoursewithFanny，astheywereverysoonjoinedbyabrotherloungerofMr。Price’s，whowascometotakehisdailysurveyofhowthingswenton，andwhomustproveafarmoreworthycompanionthanhimself；
　　andafteratimethetwoofficersseemedverywellsatisfiedgoingabouttogether，anddiscussingmattersofequalandnever-failinginterest，whiletheyoungpeoplesatdownuponsometimbersintheyard，orfoundaseatonboardavesselinthestockswhichtheyallwenttolookat。
　　Fannywasmostconvenientlyinwantofrest。Crawfordcouldnothavewishedhermorefatiguedormorereadytositdown；
　　buthecouldhavewishedhersisteraway。Aquick-lookinggirlofSusan’sagewastheveryworstthirdintheworld：
　　totallydifferentfromLadyBertram，alleyesandears；
　　andtherewasnointroducingthemainpointbeforeher。
　　Hemustcontenthimselfwithbeingonlygenerallyagreeable，andlettingSusanhavehershareofentertainment，withtheindulgence，nowandthen，ofalookorhintforthebetter-informedandconsciousFanny。Norfolkwaswhathehadmostlytotalkof：therehehadbeensometime，andeverythingtherewasrisinginimportancefromhispresentschemes。Suchamancouldcomefromnoplace，nosociety，withoutimportingsomethingtoamuse；
　　hisjourneysandhisacquaintancewereallofuse，andSusanwasentertainedinawayquitenewtoher。
　　ForFanny，somewhatmorewasrelatedthantheaccidentalagreeablenessofthepartieshehadbeenin。
　　Forherapprobation，theparticularreasonofhisgoingintoNorfolkatall，atthisunusualtimeofyear，wasgiven。
　　Ithadbeenrealbusiness，relativetotherenewalofaleaseinwhichthewelfareofalargeand——hebelieved——
　　industriousfamilywasatstake。Hehadsuspectedhisagentofsomeunderhanddealing；ofmeaningtobiashimagainstthedeserving；andhehaddeterminedtogohimself，andthoroughlyinvestigatethemeritsofthecase。
　　Hehadgone，haddoneevenmoregoodthanhehadforeseen，hadbeenusefultomorethanhisfirstplanhadcomprehended，andwasnowabletocongratulatehimselfuponit，andtofeelthatinperformingaduty，hehadsecuredagreeablerecollectionsforhisownmind。Hehadintroducedhimselftosometenantswhomhehadneverseenbefore；hehadbegunmakingacquaintancewithcottageswhoseveryexistence，thoughonhisownestate，hadbeenhithertounknowntohim。
　　Thiswasaimed，andwellaimed，atFanny。Itwaspleasingtohearhimspeaksoproperly；herehehadbeenactingasheoughttodo。Tobethefriendofthepoorandtheoppressed!Nothingcouldbemoregratefultoher；
　　andshewasonthepointofgivinghimanapprovinglook，whenitwasallfrightenedoffbyhisaddingasomethingtoopointedofhishopingsoontohaveanassistant，afriend，aguideineveryplanofutilityorcharityforEveringham：asomebodythatwouldmakeEveringhamandallaboutitadearerobjectthanithadeverbeenyet。
　　Sheturnedaway，andwishedhewouldnotsaysuchthings。
　　Shewaswillingtoallowhemighthavemoregoodqualitiesthanshehadbeenwonttosuppose。Shebegantofeelthepossibilityofhisturningoutwellatlast；
　　buthewasandmusteverbecompletelyunsuitedtoher，andoughtnottothinkofher。
　　HeperceivedthatenoughhadbeensaidofEveringham，andthatitwouldbeaswelltotalkofsomethingelse，andturnedtoMansfield。Hecouldnothavechosenbetter；
　　thatwasatopictobringbackherattentionandherlooksalmostinstantly。ItwasarealindulgencetohertohearortospeakofMansfield。Nowsolongdividedfromeverybodywhoknewtheplace，shefeltitquitethevoiceofafriendwhenhementionedit，andledthewaytoherfondexclamationsinpraiseofitsbeautiesandcomforts，andbyhishonourabletributetoitsinhabitantsallowedhertogratifyherownheartinthewarmesteulogium，inspeakingofheruncleasallthatwascleverandgood，andherauntashavingthesweetestofallsweettempers。
　　HehadagreatattachmenttoMansfieldhimself；hesaidso；
　　helookedforwardwiththehopeofspendingmuch，verymuch，ofhistimethere；alwaysthere，orintheneighbourhood。
　　Heparticularlybuiltuponaveryhappysummerandautumntherethisyear；hefeltthatitwouldbeso：
　　hedependeduponit；asummerandautumninfinitelysuperiortothelast。Asanimated，asdiversified，associal，butwithcircumstancesofsuperiorityundescribable。
　　“Mansfield，Sotherton，ThorntonLacey，“hecontinued；
　　“whatasocietywillbecomprisedinthosehouses!
　　AndatMichaelmas，perhaps，afourthmaybeadded：
　　somesmallhunting-boxinthevicinityofeverythingsodear；
　　forastoanypartnershipinThorntonLacey，asEdmundBertramoncegood-humouredlyproposed，IhopeIforeseetwoobjections：twofair，excellent，irresistibleobjectionstothatplan。“