Henry Crawford was at Mansfield Park again the next morning, and at an
earlier hour than common visiting warrants. The two ladies were
together in the breakfast-room, and, fortunately for him, Lady Bertram
was on the very point of quitting it as he entered. She was almost at
the door, and not chusing by any means to take so much trouble in vain,
she still went on, after a civil reception, a short sentence about
being waited for, and a "Let Sir Thomas know" to the servant.

Henry, overjoyed to have her go, bowed and watched her off, and without
losing another moment, turned instantly to Fanny, and, taking out some
letters, said, with a most animated look, "I must acknowledge myself
infinitely obliged to any creature who gives me such an opportunity of
seeing you alone: I have been wishing it more than you can have any
idea. Knowing as I do what your feelings as a sister are, I could
hardly have borne that any one in the house should share with you in
the first knowledge of the news I now bring. He is made. Your brother
is a lieutenant. I have the infinite satisfaction of congratulating
you on your brother's promotion. Here are the letters which announce
it, this moment come to hand. You will, perhaps, like to see them."

Fanny could not speak, but he did not want her to speak. To see the
expression of her eyes, the change of her complexion, the progress of
her feelings, their doubt, confusion, and felicity, was enough. She
took the letters as he gave them. The first was from the Admiral to
inform his nephew, in a few words, of his having succeeded in the
object he had undertaken, the promotion of young Price, and enclosing
two more, one from the Secretary of the First Lord to a friend, whom
the Admiral had set to work in the business, the other from that friend
to himself, by which it appeared that his lordship had the very great
happiness of attending to the recommendation of Sir Charles; that Sir
Charles was much delighted in having such an opportunity of proving his
regard for Admiral Crawford, and that the circumstance of Mr. William
Price's commission as Second Lieutenant of H.M. Sloop Thrush being made
out was spreading general joy through a wide circle of great people.