A ball at such a time! His daughters absent and herself not consulted! There was comfort, however, soon at hand.

_She_ must be the doer of everything: Lady Bertram would of course be spared all thought and exertion, and it would all fall upon _her_.

She should have to do the honours of the evening; and this reflection quickly restored so much of her good-humour as enabled her to join in with the others, before their happiness and thanks were all expressed.
Edmund, William, and Fanny did, in their different ways, look and speak as much grateful pleasure in the promised ball as Sir Thomas could desire.

Edmund's feelings were for the other two.

His father had never conferred a favour or shewn a kindness more to his satisfaction.
Lady Bertram was perfectly quiescent and contented, and had no objections to make.