I must speak to you for a few minutes, but I will not detain you long." Fanny obeyed, with eyes cast down and colour rising.

After a moment's pause, Sir Thomas, trying to suppress a smile, went on.
"You are not aware, perhaps, that I have had a visitor this morning.

I had not been long in my own room, after breakfast, when Mr.Crawford was shewn in.

His errand you may probably conjecture." Fanny's colour grew deeper and deeper; and her uncle, perceiving that she was embarrassed to a degree that made either speaking or looking up quite impossible, turned away his own eyes, and without any farther pause proceeded in his account of Mr.Crawford's visit.
Mr.Crawford's business had been to declare himself the lover of Fanny, make decided proposals for her, and entreat the sanction of the uncle, who seemed to stand in the place of her parents; and he had done it all so well, so openly, so liberally, so properly, that Sir Thomas, feeling, moreover, his own replies, and his own remarks to have been very much to the purpose, was exceedingly happy to give the particulars of their conversation; and little aware of what was passing in his niece's mind, conceived that by such details he must be gratifying her far more than himself.

He talked, therefore, for several minutes without Fanny's daring to interrupt him.