To imitate Mrs. Norris, we should all be grateful to the author of this novel for giving us three-dimensional characters who refuse to lie down meekly in their little boxes.

I would adore having Henry Crawford as an acquaintance. He'd make a wonderful cavaliere servente a man who escorts ladies to the theatre and the opera because their husbands are too busy to take them. I'm sure a man like Henry Crawford would be up on the latest gossip regarding which actress and which actor were the ones who . . .

Henry's attendance at a party would mean that the conversation would be sparkling, witty, and spicy enough to keep everyone interested. He'd be able to complement a particularly elegant gown or admire a well-tailored cut-a-way coat. If there were dancing, he'd make an able and graceful partner.