CHAPTER XXIII 

"But why should Mrs. Grant ask Fanny?" said Lady Bertram. "How came she to think of asking Fanny? Fanny never dines there, you know, in this sort of way. I cannot spare her, and I am sure she does not want to go. Fanny, you do not want to go, do you?" 

"If you put such a question to her," cried Edmund, preventing his cousin's speaking, "Fanny will immediately say No; but I am sure, my dear mother, she would like to go; and I can see no reason why she should not." 

"I cannot imagine why Mrs. Grant should think of asking her? She never did before. She used to ask your sisters now and then, but she never asked Fanny." 

"If you cannot do without me, ma'am--" said Fanny, in a self-denying tone. 

"But my mother will have my father with her all the evening." 

"To be sure, so I shall." 

"Suppose you take my father's opinion, ma'am." 

"That's well thought of. So I will, Edmund. I will ask Sir Thomas, as soon as he comes in, whether I can do without her." 

"As you please, ma'am, on that head; but I meant my father's opinion as to the _propriety_ of the invitation's being accepted or not; and I think he will consider it a right thing by Mrs. Grant, as well as by Fanny, that being the _first_ invitation it should be accepted." 

"I do not know. We will ask him. But he will be very much surprised that Mrs. Grant should ask Fanny at all." 
What did Mrs Grant want?
to do what?
Who doesn't want her to go?
Why?
Who thinks she should go?
Whom is he?
Who did Mrs Grant ask before?
What did Edmund suggest?
who is his father?
Who did not let Fanny answer?
Fanny
Mrs. Grant should think of asking her? She never did before. She used to ask your sisters now and then
to dine somewhere
she to think of asking Fanny? Fanny never dines there
Lady Bertram
But why should Mrs. Grant ask Fanny?" said Lady Bertram
she cannot spare her
I cannot spare her, and I am sure she does not want to go
Edmund
Edmund, preventing his cousin's speaking, "Fanny will immediately say No; but I am sure, my dear mother, she would like to go
her cousin
Edmund, preventing his cousin
his sisters
She used to ask your sisters
ask his father's opinion
Suppose you take my father's opinion
Sir Thomas
I will ask Sir Thomas
Edmund
cried Edmund, preventing his cousin's speaking