Mansfield Park

daily between the families; and on their all dining together at the Park soon after his going, she retook her chosen place near the bottom of the table, fully expecting to f

arance at Mansfield for the first time since the Crawfords' arrival. He had been visiting a friend in the neighbouring county, and that friend having recently had his grounds laid out by an improver, Mr. Rushworth was returned with his head full of the subject, and very eager to be improving his own place in the same way; and though not saying much to the purpose, could talk of nothing else. The

Smith I did not know where I was. The approach now, is one of the finest things in the country: you see the house in the mo

"A prison indeed? Sotherton Court is

a place that wanted so much improvement in my life; and it

s. Grant to Mrs. Norris, with a smile; "but depend upon it, Sother

r. Rushworth, "but I do not know what. I hop

casion," said Miss Bertram calmly

e so well by Smith, I think I had better have

nd of it. It would be too ridiculous for me to attempt anything where I am now, with my little half acre. It would be quite a burlesque. But if I had more room, I should take a prodigious delight in improving and planting. We did a vast deal in that way at the Parsonage: we made it quite a different place from what it was when we first had it. You young ones do not remember much about it, perhaps; but if dear Sir Thomas were here, he could tell you what improvements we made: and a great deal more would have been done, but for poor Mr. Norris's sad state of health

t. "The soil is good; and I never pass it without regretting tha

us-that is, it was a present from Sir Thomas, but I saw the bill-a

e flavour of a Moor Park apricot as the fruit from that tree. It is an insipid f

the natural taste of our apricot is: he is scarcely ever indulged with one, for it is so valuable a fruit; with a little assistan

took place of the improvements of Sotherton. Dr. Grant and Mrs. Norris were seldom good frie

lace is the admiration of all the country; and it was a mere not

ou, I would have a very pretty shrubbery. One li

by a proposal of wine. Mr. Rushworth, however, though not usually a great talker, had still more to say on the subject next his heart. "Smith has not much above a hundred acres altogether in his grounds, which is little enough, and makes it more surprising that the place can have been so improved. Now, at Sotherton we have a good seven hundred, without reckoning the water meadows; so that I think, if so much could be done at Compt

recollect it. I really kno

ctly opposite Miss Crawford, and who had been attentive

t make you think of Cowper? 'Ye fallen avenu

"I am afraid the avenue st

cut down, to see the place as it is now, in

can; and, unluckily, it is out of distance

ever I do see it, you will tel

rton is an old place, and a place of some gr

ands in one of the lowest spots of the park; in that respect, unfavourable for improvement. But the woods are fine, and there is a stream, which, I dare say, might

on, and said to herself, "He is a we

uld not put myself into the hands of an improver. I would rather have an inferior degree of beauty,

but as they are before me; and had I a place of my own in the country, I should be most thankful to any Mr. Repton who wo

to me to see the progres

noured uncle, bought a cottage at Twickenham for us all to spend our summers in; and my aunt and I went down to it quite in raptures; but it being excessively pretty, it was soon found necessary to be improved, and for three months we were all dirt and confusion, w

so freely of her uncle. It did not suit his sense of propriety, and he was silenced

often received to the contrary." Edmund expressed his pleasure and surprise. "The truth is, that our inquiries were too direct; we sent a servant, we went ourselves: this will not do seventy miles f

d of it, by whatever means, and ho

Not by a wagon or cart: oh no! nothing of that kind could be hired in

, just now, in the middle of a very late

bbery without passing another, I thought it would be only ask and have, and was rather grieved that I could not give the advantage to all. Guess my surprise, when I found that I had been asking the most unreasonable, most impossible thing in the world; had offend

mportance of getting in the grass. The hire of a cart at any time might not be so easy as you suppose: our farmer

ey, I was a little embarrassed at first by the sturdy independence of your country customs. However, I am to have my harp fet

and hoped to be soon allowed to hear her. Fanny had ne

is equal the player must always be best off, for she is gratified in more ways than one. Now, Mr. Bertram, if you write to your brother, I entreat you to tell him that my harp is come: he he

u wish me; but I do not, at present

en obliged to take up the pen to say that such a horse is ill, or such a relation dead, it is done in the fewest possible words. You have but one style among you. I know it perfectly. Henry, who is in every other respect exactly what a brother should be, who loves me, consults me, confide

ir family," said Fanny, colouring for Wil

dmund, "whose excellence as a corresponde

In the king's se

: her voice was animated in speaking of his profession, and the foreign stations he had been on; but she could not mention

?" said Edmund; "Captain Marshall? You have

dmirals I could tell you a great deal: of them and their flags, and the gradation of their pay, and their bickerings and jealousies. But, in general, I can assure you that they are all passed

, and only replied, "It

e fortune, and there be discretion in spending it; but, in short, it is no

nd was again very happy in the

ation among the others; and Mrs. Grant could not help addressing her

it may vie with any place in England. Its natural beauties, I am sure, are great. Everingham, as it used to be, w

tment: you would not find it equal to your present ideas. In extent, it is a mere nothing; you would be surprised at its insign

the sort of thi

equent resolutions, I had not been of age three months before Everingham was all that it is now. My plan was laid at Westminster, a little altered, perhaps, at

," said Julia. "You can never want employment. Instead of env

d disinterested advisers, than immediately to throw the business into the hands of a professional man, Mr. Rushworth was very ready to request the favour of Mr. Crawford's assistance; and Mr. Crawford, after properly depreciating his own abilities, was quite at his service in any way that coul

to you with their opinions; and, for my own part, I have been long wishing to wait upon your good mother again; nothing but having no horses of my own could have made me so remiss; but now I could go and sit a few hours with Mrs. Rushworth, while the rest of you walked about and settled things, and then we cou

n the going was forward in expressing their ready concurr