Mr Rushworth was from the first struck with the beauty of Miss Bertram，and being inclined to marry，soon fancied himself in love.He was a heavy young man，with not more than common sense；but as there was nothing disagreeable in his figure or address，the young lady was well pleased with her conquest.Being now in her twenty-first year，Maria Bertram was beginning to think matrimony a duty；and as a marriage with Mr Rushworth would give her the enjoyment of a larger income than her father's，as well as ensure her the house in town，which was now a prime object，it became，by the same rule of moral obligation，her evident duty to marry Mr Rushworth if she could.Mrs Norris was most zealous in promoting the match，by every suggestion and contrivance，likely to enhance its desirableness to either party；and，among other means，by seeking an intimacy with the gentleman's mother，who at present lived with him，and to whom she even forced Lady Bertram to go through ten miles of indifferent road，to pay a morning visit.It was not long before a good understanding took place between this lady and herself.Mrs Rushworth acknowledged herself very desirous that her son should marry，and declared that of all the young ladies she had ever seen，Miss Bertram seemed，by her amiable qualities and accomplishments，the best adapted to make him happy.Mrs Norris accepted the compliment，and admired the nice discernment of character which could so well distinguish merit.Maria was indeed the pride and delight of them all -perfectly faultless -an angel；and of course，so surrounded by admirers，must be difficult in her choice；but yet as far as Mrs Norris could allow herself to decide on so short an acquaintance，Mr Rushworth appeared precisely the young man to deserve and attach her.
After dancing with each other at a proper number of balls，the young people justified these opinions，and an engagement，with a due reference to the absent Sir Thomas，was entered into，much to the satisfaction of their respective families，and of the general lookers-on of the neighbourhood，who had，for many weeks past，felt the expediency of Mr Rushworth's marrying Miss Bertram.
It was some months before Sir Thomas's consent could be received；but in the meanwhile，as no one felt a doubt of his most cordial pleasure in the connection，the intercourse of the two families was carried on without restraint，and no other attempt made at secrecy，than Mrs Norris's talking of it everywhere as a matter not to be talked of at present.
Edmund was the only one of the family who could see a fault in the business；but no representation of his aunt's could induce him to find Mr Rushworth a desirable companion.He could allow his sister to be the best judge of her own happiness，but he was not pleased that her happiness should centre in a large income；nor could he refrain from often saying to himself，in Mr Rushworth's company，‘If this man had not twelve thousand a year，he would be a very stupid fellow.’
Sir Thomas，however，was truly happy in the prospect of an alliance so unquestionably advantageous，and of which he heard nothing but the perfectly good and agreeable.It was a connection exactly of the right sort；in the same county，and the same interest；and his most hearty concurrence was conveyed as soon as possible.He only conditioned that the marriage should not take place before his return，which he was again looking eagerly forward to.He wrote in April，and had strong hopes of settling everything to his entire satisfaction，and leaving Antigua before the end of the summer.
Such was the state of affairs in the month of July，and Fanny had just reached her eighteenth year，when the society of the village received an addition in the brother and sister of Mrs Grant，a Mr and Miss Crawford，the children of her mother by a second marriage.They were young people of fortune.The son had a good estate in Norfolk，the daughter twenty thousand pounds.As children，their sister had been always very fond of them；but，as her own marriage had been soon followed by the death of their common parent，which left them to the care of a brother of their father，of whom Mrs Grant knew nothing，she had scarcely seen them since.In their uncle's house they had found a kind home.Admiral and Mrs Crawford，though agreeing in nothing else，were united in affection for these children，or at least were no farther adverse in their feelings than that each had their favourite，to whom they showed the greatest fondness of the two.The Admiral delighted in the boy，Mrs Crawford doted on the girl；and it was the lady's death which now obliged her protégée after some months further trial at her uncle's house，to find another home.Admiral Crawford was a man of vicious conduct，who chose，instead of retaining his niece，to bring his mistress under his own roof；and to this Mrs Grant was indebted for her sister's proposal of coming to her，a measure quite as welcome on one side，as it could be expedient on the other；for Mrs Grant having by this time run through the usual resources of ladies residing in the country without a family of children；having more than filled her favourite sitting-room with pretty furniture，and made a choice collection of plants and poultry，was very much in want of some variety at home.The arrival，therefore，of a sister whom she had always loved，and now hoped to retain with her as long as she remained single，was highly agreeable；and her chief anxiety was lest Mansfield should not satisfy the habits of a young woman who had been mostly used to London.
