Once Fanny Dashwood almost tried to avoid being rude. When the screens Elinor painted for her were being shown, I almost pitied Fanny Dashwood for her predicament whether to be too rude or too civil:

Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude enough, -- for, colouring a little, she immediately said, "They are very pretty, ma'am -- an't they?" But then again, the dread of having been too civil, too encouraging herself, probably came over her, for she presently added, "Do you not think they are something in Miss Morton's style of painting, ma'am? She does paint most delightfully. How beautifully her last landscape is done!"