Chapters 22, 23, and 24 Summary

After Julia and Maria leave for Brighton, Fanny finds that she has a new place in the household. Her value has increased both at the Park and at the parsonage. Fanny gets caught in the rain near the parsonage one day and spends several hours with Mary Crawford and Mrs. Grant. They enjoy her company immensely, and Mary plays the harp for her. This is the origin of the intimacy that develops between Fanny, Mary Crawford, and Mrs. Grant.

Lady Bertram and Mrs. Norris are disconcerted by the Grants' inviting Fanny to dinner. They try to persuade Fanny to stay home with them, but Edmund convinces them to let her go. Upon hearing about the discussion, Sir Thomas also agrees with Edmund that Fanny should accept the invitation. His only surprise is that Fanny hasn't been asked to dinner previously.

Fanny...