Mansfield Park Revisited Read Online Free

felt much less interest in them as they grew older, and had long ago divested herself of any anxieties or gratification regarding them, unless in a matter directly concerning herself. And as to her grandchildren, her chief wish was that they should not crumple her gown, tangle her embroidery silk, or frighten Pug.
    That Lady Bertram never alluded to the erring Maria was due primarily to a complete lack of interest in her disgraced daughter’s fortunes; in fact she was hardly remembered from one year’s end to another.
    Lady Bertram could, however, when it occurred to her, display some concern for those immediately connected to her daily life; this care for others was now manifested by her turning to Susan, as she rose to go and dress for dinner, in order to inquire,
    â€œShould I send Chapman to help Fanny pack for the West Indies, Susan? She could go over when she has dressed me. Do you think it would be of assistance to Fanny if I sent Chapman?”
    â€œNo, ma’am, that is kind of you, but I believe she is already as well forward as need be, with the help of her Rachel and a girl from the village.”
    Her mind thus lightened from care, Lady Bertram proceeded upstairs, and Susan was on the point of following when Tom and Edmund came back from the estate-room, still deep in the discussion of agricultural drills and new breeds of cattle.
    â€œWe are agreed as to the pastures beyond Easton, then. I shall expect to hear from you that the sheep do well on them.—Why, Cousin Susan, has my mother gone up already? I had no notion it was so late. Fanny will be wondering where I have got to. I will take my leave, then, Tom—”
    â€œIf I can take up a moment of your time, Cousin Edmund—” began Susan, with a diffidence which hardly bore out the recent views of her expressed by Mrs. Yates, “I was hoping to catch you before you went—”
    Edmund, with all the kindness of an excellent nature, immediately stopped and asked how he could help his cousin?
    From her first arrival at Mansfield, Edmund had felt an esteem for his wife’s sister, observing with what energy and goodwill she had taken over the not inconsiderable task of keeping his mother occupied and entertained; this admiration had, in the course of time, ripened into a strong and warm affection. Of a quiet and sober disposition himself, and married to the equally tranquil and gentle Fanny, he could yet admire the liveliness of Susan’s nature, and the way in which she found diversion and kept herself amused at Mansfield, despite the grave atmosphere and general want of animation in the household.
    â€œI was wishing before you went away to ascertain your views regarding this business of my cousin Maria,” said Susan with her usual directness.
    Both brothers stared at her in surprise.
    â€œHow in the world did you get wind of that?” burst out Tom, with no small vexation in his tone. “And what business, may I ask, Cousin Susan, do you consider it to be of yours?”
    Looking at his red, affronted countenance, Susan realised that she had erred in not addressing herself to the elder brother, who now felt that his authority as new head of the family had been set aside. Quickly, she did her best to rectify this mistake.
    â€œThat is—I was wanting to ask the opinion of you both—but in recent months Edmund has been so much more in my aunt’s company than you have, Tom, that I addressed myself to him as being likelier to judge of her present sentiments in the matter. I am anxious to know how you both feel: should my aunt be told of this new development? Or do you think that would be to distress her unnecessarily?”
    The new Sir Thomas hardly seemed much conciliated by having his opinion thus canvassed. Susan had a suspicion that he would have preferred to be given the dignity of his new title and not addressed with such cousinly informality as Tom. He repeated, in a colder