Theintercourseofthetwofamilieswasatthisperiodmorenearlyrestoredtowhatithadbeenintheautumn，thananymemberoftheoldintimacyhadthoughteverlikelytobeagain。ThereturnofHenryCrawford，andthearrivalofWilliamPrice，hadmuchtodowithit，butmuchwasstillowingtoSirThomas’smorethantolerationoftheneighbourlyattemptsattheParsonage。Hismind，nowdisengagedfromthecareswhichhadpressedonhimatfirst，wasatleisuretofindtheGrantsandtheiryounginmatesreallyworthvisiting；andthoughinfinitelyaboveschemingorcontrivingforanythemostadvantageousmatrimonialestablishmentthatcouldbeamongtheapparentpossibilitiesofanyonemostdeartohim，anddisdainingevenasalittlenessthebeingquick-sightedonsuchpoints，hecouldnotavoidperceiving，inagrandandcarelessway，thatMr。Crawfordwassomewhatdistinguishinghisniece——
norperhapsrefrainthoughunconsciouslyfromgivingamorewillingassenttoinvitationsonthataccount。
Hisreadiness，however，inagreeingtodineattheParsonage，whenthegeneralinvitationwasatlasthazarded，aftermanydebatesandmanydoubtsastowhetheritwereworthwhile，“becauseSirThomasseemedsoillinclined，andLadyBertramwassoindolent!“proceededfromgood-breedingandgoodwillalone，andhadnothingtodowithMr。Crawford，butasbeingoneinanagreeablegroup：
foritwasinthecourseofthatveryvisitthathefirstbegantothinkthatanyoneinthehabitofsuchidleobservations_would__have__thought_thatMr。CrawfordwastheadmirerofFannyPrice。
Themeetingwasgenerallyfelttobeapleasantone，beingcomposedinagoodproportionofthosewhowouldtalkandthosewhowouldlisten；andthedinneritselfwaselegantandplentiful，accordingtotheusualstyleoftheGrants，andtoomuchaccordingtotheusualhabitsofalltoraiseanyemotionexceptinMrs。Norris，whocouldneverbeholdeitherthewidetableorthenumberofdishesonitwithpatience，andwhodidalwayscontrivetoexperiencesomeevilfromthepassingoftheservantsbehindherchair，andtobringawaysomefreshconvictionofitsbeingimpossibleamongsomanydishesbutthatsomemustbecold。