Lynn Shepherd - Murder at Mansfield Park

After breakfast the following morning Henry proposed that Mary accompany him on a survey of the park. The enthusiasm produced by their walk of the previous evening was excited still more by the loveliness of the day; it was really April; but it was May in its mild air, brisk soft wind, and bright sun, occasionally clouded for a minute. Everything looked beautiful under the influence of such a sky, even a bowling-green and a formal parterre laid out with too much regularity for his improver’s eye.

"Well my dear Mary," said Henry, drawing her arm within his, as they walked along the sweep, "how do you like Mansfield?"

"Very well — very much. Our sister is all kindness, and I am sure our three months here will be marked by many such evenings at the Park."

"And Mr Bertram?" he asked.

Mary shook her head with a smile. "I fear our sister will be disappointed if she persists in her expectations of him, even supposing him capable of attaching himself to a woman of no fortune, and no connections. I concede that Mr Bertram has easy manners and excellent spirits, as well as a long list of intimate friends that he seems to add to on the strength of the most meagre acquaintance, but these are not sufficient qualities to attract me , notwithstanding the reversion of Mansfield Park, and the baronetcy he will one day assume."

Henry laughed. "You are far too old for your twenty years, my dear Mary. I will leave it to you to break the news to our poor sister! And the young ladies?"

Mary decided to keep her more perplexing observations to herself for the present, stating merely that Miss Bertram seemed to be a very pleasing young woman.

"Quite so, but I do not know what to make of Miss Julia. I do not understand her. Why did she draw back and look so grave at me? She hardly said a word."

Mary laughed. "Henry! Miss Julia is not out . No wonder you could not get her to speak. She should not be noticed for another six months at least — or until Miss Price marries."

"Oh, Mary, these outs and not outs are beyond me! But you have now introduced a subject in which I must confess the most profound interest.What think you, my dear Mary, of the said Miss Price? The sweet and amiable and modest Miss Price? Did you not see her last night? Writing that note for Lady Bertram? Attending with such ineffable gentleness and patience, her colour beautifully heightened as she leant over it, her hair arranged neatly, and one little curl falling forward as she wrote — "

"I am sure that Miss Price’s ringlets are quite as artfully contrived as her deportment," interrupted Mary with a laugh. "I can respect her for doing her hair well, but cannot feel a more tender sentiment. Nor, I am sure, can you . I know you are merely teasing."

"No, no, I am quite determined, Mary. My mind is entirely made up. My plan is to make Fanny Price in love with me."

Mary shook her head with a smile. "My dear brother, I will not believe this of you. Even were she as perfectly faultless as she appears — even were she the angel Mrs Norris claims her to be — we are told that Miss Price is engaged. Her choice is made."

"All I can say to that is that if Miss Price has given Mr Norris her heart as well as her hand, then she will be safe from any attack from me. But Mary," he said, stopping short, and smiling in her face, "I know what a thinking brain you have, and I know full well that you saw exactly what I saw — you cannot dissemble with me. Miss Price does not care three straws for Mr Norris, nor he for her; that is your opinion. And I do not blame her — what woman would care for such an undersized, solemn, gloomy fellow! Did you not hear him discussing his wretched dog last night? I never heard so much fuss made over such a trifle, or so many long words expended over such a small puppy — if it was necessary to say anything at all on such a desperate dull subject. In his place I would simply have said "I have given the thing a basket in the stables", but clearly such plain and manly dealing is beyond the wit of our Mr Norris. What was it he said? "I at length determined on a method of proceeding which would obviate the risk of unnecessary expense." Honestly, Mary, what is one to do with such an insufferable fellow?"

Mary laughed and replied, "Perhaps he will improve upon acquaintance?"

"I rather doubt it," he said, with sarcastic dryness, "as I am sure his lovely Fanny is only too aware."

"Oh! Henry, how shall I manage you? But I know you are not serious."

"Forty thousand pounds is a serious enough matter, would you not say?"

It was lightly said, and lightly taken, and without attempting any farther remonstrance, Mary left Miss Price to her fate, and they continued their walk. Henry led the way; every vista was pointed out, every prospect noted, until an opening in the trees finally afforded them a view of the house. They stopped some minutes to look and admire, until they noticed Miss Price and Mr Norris on horseback, riding side by side, followed by the Mansfield coachman, making directly towards the spot where they stood. Mary turned to her brother with a smile. "It seems you will have an early opportunity to begin your wicked project. I shall observe how you succeed, though if I am to judge by her behaviour last evening, I do not think you should expect very much encouragement. If there is not hope in her disdain, there is hope in nothing else."

"I fear we interrupt you in the exercise of your profession, Crawford," said Mr Norris, as soon as he was within hearing. "I suspected we might encounter you on our ride; the weather is exactly suited for your purpose. Well, how do you go on? Have you been able to form an opinion?"

Henry protested that a survey such as he felt necessary to be done was not the work of a moment, but, if he would, Mr Norris could be of inestimable assistance to him in pointing out the various divisions of the park.

Before Mr Norris could answer, Miss Price ventured to say, "Edmund, I am sure my uncle’s steward would be happy to offer his services to Mr Crawford by way of a guide."

Mr Norris made no reply and continued, "Is there anything you particularly wish to see, Crawford?"

"Sir Thomas’s letter talked of an avenue. I should like to see that."

"Of course, you would not have been able to see it last night, for the drawing-room looks across the lawn. Yes, the avenue is exactly behind the house; it begins at a little distance, and descends for half a mile to the extremity of the grounds. You may see something of it here — something of the more distant trees. It is oak entirely. But have a care, Crawford, you will lose my cousin Julia as a friend if you propose to have it down. She has a young girl’s romantic attachment to the avenue; she says it makes her think of Cowper."

"" Ye fallen avenues, once more I mourn your fate unmerited ,"" said Mary, with a smile. "The park is certainly beautiful at this time of year. The woods are some of the finest I have ever seen."

"Indeed," said Miss Price, looking at her with evident surprise. "I had not expected someone so used to the bustle and dirt and noise of London to feel the pleasures of spring so keenly. The animation of body and mind that one can derive from the beginnings and progress of vegetation, the increasing beauties of the earliest flowers — when all is freshness, fragrance, and verdure!"

There was a short silence, then Mr Norris returned to Henry. "It is some distance, I am afraid, from this spot to the avenue, and I fear Miss Crawford may have had walking enough for this morning."

"I am not tired, I assure you," said she. "Nothing ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like, and nothing pleases me more than accompanying Henry on his visits. I rarely have a gratification of the kind."