I begged him to be serious but he said that he was.

‘She is just the wife for you. Her fortune will allow you to enlarge the rectory at Thornton Lacey and keep a carriage.’

‘If she is to be rich and beautiful I am surprised you do not want to marry her yourself,’ I said.

‘God forbid! The last thing I want is a wife.’

But I find myself hoping he might take a liking to her, for a wife would be the very thing to steady him, and perhaps marriage would make him take a pride in his inheritance and give him a desire to work to preserve it.


Monday 11 July

I scarcely know what I am writing, for I have had such a jolt to my feelings that I am quite dazed. I returned from estate business this afternoon to find a beautiful young woman in the drawing room. I caught a glimpse of her profile first and felt my pulse quicken, and when she turned her face towards mine, the hope flashed through my mind that Tom would not care for her after all, for she was the most charming young woman I had ever seen. She had bright, dark eyes and dark hair, with a clear brown complexion and a smiling mouth, whilst her figure was small and dainty. She was a complete contrast to Maria and Julia, whose tall fairness, as they sat next to her, set off her dark loveliness like two willowy reeds setting off a forest pool. But as I took my seat I found that Tom seemed to have abandoned his intention of remaining a bachelor, for he was at his liveliest. He was entertaining Miss Crawford with tales of his trip to Antigua and she was smiling and laughing. She seemed delighted with him. And how could she not be? For when Tom puts himself out to please, he never fails. And were he not half so amusing, his position as a baronet’s heir, with the added advantages of person and conversation, could hardly fail to please any young woman.

Tom at last turned his attention to Mr. Crawford, who happened to mention his horse, and the two of them began a lengthy conversation about the merits of their hunters. Miss Crawford turned her attention to me and to my surprise I found myself tongue-tied, but luckily her conversation was lively enough for two.

When I had command of myself once more I asked her about her journey into Northamptonshire and she answered me civilly, making the commonplace remarks about the roads and the carriage seem interesting and amusing. I was about to ask her what she thought of Mansfield when Tom caught her attention and she was soon laughing with him again. I ought to be pleased that he has taken a liking to her, and she to him, but instead I find myself hoping that Tom will soon grow tired of her, and that I might see a great deal more of her in the coming weeks.


Tuesday 12 July

Tom was full of admiration for Miss Crawford this morning, saying that she was a very elegant young woman, and Maria and Julia seemed equally struck with Henry Crawford.


Wednesday 13 July

We dined at the Parsonage this evening. Fanny was very quiet, but nevertheless I believe she enjoyed herself, for she does not go out so often that it is a commonplace to her. Miss Crawford was very lively, and matched Tom’s wit with her own. I managed to speak to her, too, and found her as agreeable to listen to as to look at. The Crawfords are an addition to our circle, and their presence bodes well for the summer.


Thursday 14 July

We have seen the Crawfords twice now, and on both occasions Miss Crawford has delighted me. She has such a lively way of talking and such dancing dark eyes that I can think of nothing else.

Mama and Aunt Norris are pleased with the Crawfords, too.

‘I knew how it would be,’ said my aunt. ‘Miss Crawford is as elegant and charming a young woman as you could wish to meet, and with her fortune, Tom, she would make you an excellent wife. Her brother, too, is quite the gentleman. I thought him plain at first—’

‘Plain?’ cried Maria and Julia together in astonishment.

‘At first,’ said my aunt. ‘But after the second meeting I thought him not so very plain, and after dining at the Parsonage yesterday, I find I consider him to be one of the handsomest men of my acquaintance. He has so much countenance, and his teeth are so good, and he is so well made, that he is a great addition to our circle.’

‘Indeed,’ said Maria, ‘he is the most agreeable man I ever met.’

‘But not so agreeable as Mr. Rushworth?’ I asked.

‘Of course our dear Maria favors Mr. Rushworth,’ put in my aunt. ‘He is everything that is amiable and amusing. Such manners, such an air...’

‘He is not half so agreeable as Mr. Crawford,’ said Julia, with far more truth.

‘And if I do not mistake the matter — which I am sure I do not — he finds you extremely agreeable, too, Julia,’ said my aunt, keen to promote this preference on the part of Julia. ‘A double wedding would be a very pleasant thing, with Tom marrying Mary Crawford, and Julia marrying Mr. Crawford. I am persuaded Sir Thomas would be very pleased.’

‘As to that, it would be a triple wedding, for I am already engaged,’ said Maria. ‘But for all that, there really is no harm in my paying attention to an agreeable man. Everybody knows my situation, and Mr. Crawford must take care of himself.’

This speech did nothing to reassure me, but when I spoke to my aunt about it, she said,

‘Depend upon it, Maria is only paying attention to Mr. Crawford because she is cross with Mr. Rushworth for leaving her in order to visit a friend. He cannot expect Maria to stay indoors until he returns. I believe it will be no bad thing if Mr. Crawford pays some attention to Maria, for it will teach Mr. Rushworth a lesson, and when he returns he will see that he must guard his treasures if he is not to lose them.’

‘Do you think he may lose them?’ I asked. ‘Do you think Maria is not really in love with him? If that is the case, I should not have allowed things to go this far. Long engagements are never a good thing, and this engagement of Maria’s, unsanctioned by my father and not likely to be sanctioned for many weeks, is worse than most. It puts everyone in a false position. ’

‘You misunderstand me. I am sure Maria loves him but a woman does not like to be ignored, and it will do Mr. Rushworth no harm to learn this fact. We all want Maria to be happy when she becomes Mrs. Rushworth, and not to find herself left behind whilst her husband goes roaming about the country.’

Rushworth’s going to stay with a friend for a fortnight did not seem like roaming about the country to me, but my aunt knows far more about women than I do, and no doubt she is right. Even so, I wish Papa might come home soon, for I am sure he will be better at looking after his daughters than I can ever be.

Besides, I feel in need of some advice myself. I can think of nothing but Miss Crawford — but it seems Miss Crawford can think of nothing but Tom.


Friday 15 July

The Crawfords called again today. Crawford had been intending to bring his sister to stay with the Grants and then leave the neighborhood, but he seems to find it agreeable here, for he said it was now his intention to stay awhile.

The day was fine and we were soon walking together.

‘You have an excellent property here, Mr. Bertram,’ Miss Crawford said as she strolled along next to Tom. ‘It has a real park, some five miles round, my sister tells me?’

‘That is so, five miles exactly,’ said Tom.

‘I must congratulate you on it. There are not many so fine. Why, a mile or two seems to be enough for some people to proclaim they have a park, when really it is nothing of the kind. The house, too, is remarkable. It is very spacious, and I like a house that is modern built, with none of the small windows that make older houses so dark. The ceilings are so high, and the rooms so large, that it is a pleasure to sit in them.’

‘Then we must hope you will grace it with your presence for a long time to come!’ said Tom courteously.

She inclined her head and smiled bewitchingly, and made me long to offer her my arm, which, however, I could not do, as she was clearly not at all fatigued and was instead very lively. She moved her hands expressively when she talked, and everything about her spoke of health and life.

‘You should have an engraving made of the house,’ she said. ‘I always say that a well-built house should be honored with an engraving. I am sure I have seen many smaller houses treated in this way, and Mansfield Park would grace any collection in which it was included.’

‘I have always thought it a very fine house,’ said Mama. ‘Sir Thomas is very proud of it.’

‘And with good reason. It is one of the finest baronet’s seats in the land,’ said my aunt.

‘My brother tells me you have a horse running in a race soon?’ Miss Crawford asked Tom. My aunt smiled at this, and exchanged a glance with Mama, who, however, did not appear to notice. But the meaning of my aunt’s smile was clear: Miss Crawford’s interest was not in a horse race, but in my brother.

‘Indeed I do! It is running at Brighton, a very fine animal and sure to win. Have you ever been to the Brighton races?’

‘No, I must confess I have not.’

‘Then we must correct that.’

‘Are they not a little wild?’ she asked.

‘Nonsense. all the best people go. Why, the Prince of Wales himself goes. I saw him there myself, the first time I attended. It was when I was with my friend Frobisher. Do you know Frobisher?’

‘I do not believe I have had the pleasure.’

‘You would like him. He makes us roar with laughter. When we were in Brighton last we decided to go sea bathing and Frobisher swam off by himself. Then he gave a strangled cry, to make us all look at him, flailed his arms wildly and disappeared under the waves. We all swam over there and searched for him frantically. Then up he popped behind us, laughing fit to burst at the expressions on our faces! You really must come. I cannot promise you Frobisher, for his father has sent him out of the country, but I can show you the sights and take you to the races. You would enjoy it, I have no doubt. We could make a party of it. We could all go. What do you say to that, Mama? Would you like to go to Brighton?’