Murder at Mansfield Park

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.’
    Mr Norris nodded gravely, and then continued to address Henry, ‘All the same, the park is large—full five miles around—and your survey of the grounds would be better taken on
horseback.’
    ‘My dear Edmund,’ said Miss Price, ‘you forget that a man such as Mr Crawford can scarcely afford to keep three hunters of his own, as you do. But there must be some horse or
other in my uncle’s stable that nobody else wants, that Mr Crawford could use while he is here?’
    Henry made a low bow. ‘Miss Price is all consideration, but I can assure her that her generous concern is quite unnecessary. Dr Grant has offered me the loan of his road-horse, and as for
Mary, well, she is no horsewoman, so the question does not arise.’
    ‘Would it interest you to learn to ride, Miss Crawford?’ asked Mr Norris, speaking to her for the first time. His addressing her at all was so unexpected that Mary hardly knew what
to say, and felt she must look rather foolish, but whatever her confusion, she was still able to observe that, although endeavouring to appear properly demure, Miss Price’s disapprobation was
only too evident. Mary thought that Mr Norris must perceive it likewise, and presumed that no more would be said on the subject. What, then, was her increase of astonishment on hearing Mr Norris
repeat his offer, adding that he had a quiet mare that would be perfectly fitted for a beginner. What, thought Mary, could he mean by it? Surely he could not be unaware of Miss Price’s views
on the subject? But quickly recovering her spirits, she decided that if he saw fit to ignore Miss Price’s feelings, there was no reason for her to respect them, and she accepted the offer
with enthusiasm, saying that it would indeed give her great pleasure to learn to ride.
    The next morning saw the arrival of Mr Norris at the parsonage, attended by his groom. Henry, who had been waiting with Dr Grant’s horse, lingered only to see Mary lifted
on hers before mounting his own and departing for a day’s ride about the estate.
    With an active and fearless character, and no want of strength and courage, Mary seemed formed to be a horsewoman, and made her first essay around Dr Grant’s meadow with great credit. When
they made their first stop she was rewarded with expressions more nearly approaching warmth than she had so far heard Mr Norris utter, but upon looking up, she became aware that Miss Price had
walked down from the Park, and was watching the two of them intently, from her position at the gate. They had neither of them seen her approach, and Mary could not be sure how long she had been
there. Mr Norris had just taken Mary’s hand in order to direct the management of her bridle, but as soon as he saw Miss Price, he released it, and coloured slightly, recollecting that he had
promised to ride with Fanny that morning. He moved away from Mary at once and led her horse towards the gate. ‘My dear Fanny,’ he said, as she approached, ‘I would not have
incommoded you for the world, but Miss Crawford has been making such excellent progress, that I did not notice the hour. But,’ he added in a conciliatory tone, ‘there is more than time
enough, and my forgetfulness may even have promoted your comfort by preventing us from setting off half an hour sooner; clouds are now coming up, and I know that you dislike riding on a hot
day.’
    ‘My dear Edmund,’ said Fanny, with downcast eyes, ‘it is true that my delicate complexion will not now suffer from the heat as it would otherwise have done. I was wondering that you should forget me, but you have now given exactly the explanation which I ventured to make for you. Miss Crawford,’ she said, turning her gaze upon Mary, ‘I am sure
that you must think me rude and impatient, by walking to meet you in this way?’
    But Mary could not be provoked. ‘On the contrary,’ she said, ‘I should rather make my own apologies for keeping you waiting. But I have nothing in the world to say for myself.
Such dreadful selfishness must always be forgiven,’ she said with a smile, and an arch look at Miss Price, ‘because there is no hope of a cure.’
    And so saying, Mary sprang lightly down from the mare and after thanking Mr Norris for his time and attention, she walked hastily away, turning only to watch the two of them slowly ascend