In this world the penalty is less equal than
could be wished; but without presuming to look forward
to a juster appointment hereafter, we may fairly consider
a man of sense, like Henry Crawford, to be providing
for himself no small portion of vexation and regret:
vexation that must rise sometimes to self-reproach, and
regret to wretchedness, in having so requited hospitality,
so injured family peace, so forfeited his best, most estimable,
and endeared acquaintance, and so lost the woman whom
he had rationally as well as passionately loved.
After what had passed to wound and alienate the two families,
the continuance of the Bertrams and Grants in such
close neighbourhood would have been most distressing;
but the absence of the latter, for some months purposely
lengthened, ended very fortunately in the necessity,
or at least the practicability, of a permanent removal.
Dr. Grant, through an interest on which he had almost
ceased to form hopes, succeeded to a stall in Westminster,
which, as affording an occasion for leaving Mansfield,
an excuse for residence in London, and an increase of
income to answer the expenses of the change, was highly
acceptable to those who went and those who staid.
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