Main Text

Henry Crawford has decided it would be fun to break Fanny Price’s heart by making her fall in love with him. He thinks that Fanny, whose life is guided by strict principle, will jump at the chance to mould someone in her own image — thereby revealing how little he understands of principle, or of Fanny.
Précis

Dashing Henry Crawford thinks it would be fun to break prim little Fanny Price’s heart. To win her regard, he asks her to act as referee between two candidates for a responsible job at his mill, thinking she will be flattered; but Fanny refuses, declaring herself totally unqualified, and saying that everyone must judge right and wrong for himself.

“Is there anything I can do for you in town? I have half an idea of going into Norfolk again soon. I am not satisfied about Maddison. I am sure he still means to impose on me if possible, and get a cousin of his own into a certain mill, which I design for somebody else.

The mischief such a man does on an estate, both as to the credit of his employer and the welfare of the poor, is inconceivable. It would be worse than simple to let him give me a hard-hearted, griping fellow for a tenant, instead of an honest man, to whom I have given half a promise already. Shall I go? Do you advise it?

I advise! You know very well what is right.

Yes. When you give me your opinion, I always know what is right. Your judgment is my rule of right.

Oh, no! do not say so. We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Good-bye; I wish you a pleasant journey to-morrow.