Please remind me if I forget of something :-)

Henry conveyed a false idea of Fanny's feelings, whatever words he used. That is why I felt he was deceiving ST. If I understand your linked post correctly, you think Henry honestly took Fanny's reaction for subtle encouragement. You write: "they [Sir Thomas and Henry] both perceived it [Fanny's reaction] to be 'as much encouragement to proceed as a well-judging young woman could permit herself to give' ". I can not quite agree with you there. She practically ran away screaming! :-) Do not misunderstand me- I read your post carefully and esteemed the effort and information you put into it. But I simply can not believe that a man like Henry Crawford, sanguine, confident, persisting, would drop all claims of Fanny had she followed a correct " mode" of rejection.

I absolutely agree that Henry feels her reluctance will be overcome. Typical. In my opinion, Henry is incurably optimistic, in spite of possibilities, as well as oblivious to other people's feelings when contrasted to his own. Almost like: Fanny will be happy- in Henry's way, whether she likes it or not!

But he is optimistic for the future, not for the present. As I see it, he hopes he can change Fanny's feelings, but he is not deceived as to her present feelings... at least not as much as to think she actually loves him. Therefore when he conveys a false picture of them to Sir Thomas, he deceives. In the very passage you quote he declares himself Fanny's lover. The state of being a lover, in the sense he means it, implies mutuality, and that creates a false impression.

In my opinion, there are differences between Sir Thomas's suspicions of Fanny and Henry. ST had never suspected Henry's attentions were disagreeable to her, indeed, but if he waited to learn anything from her he would never have confirmed them to be otherwise. Fanny had a passive role in the whole affair. She couldn't repulse Crawford due to politeness. Henry actively (and mistakenly) told Sir Thomas he was Fanny's lover!

Thank you for the linked post. It helped to illustrate your point and I practically :-) burst out laughing when I understood what it was referring to.