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Fanny's heart sunk, but there was no leisure for thinking long even of Miss Crawford's feelings. They were in the ball-room, the violins were playing, and her mind was in a flutter that forbad its fixing on any thing serious. She must watch the general arrangements and see how every thing was done.
In a few minutes Sir Thomas came to her, and asked if she were engaged; and the "Yes, sir, to Mr. Crawford," was exactly what he had intended to hear. Mr. Crawford was not far off; Sir Thomas brought him to her, saying something which discovered to Fanny, that she was to lead the way and open the ball; an idea that had never occurred to her before. Whenever she had thought on the minutiæ of the evening, it had been as a matter of course that Edmund would begin with Miss Crawford, and the impression was so strong, that though her uncle spoke the contrary, she could not help
