Murder at Mansfield Park

not expected a letter from her brother so soon. The next day was Sunday, and a brief cessation in the rain making it possible to attend church in the morning,
Mary was in eager expectation of the Bertram carriage at the sweep-gate. She had no great hope of Lady Bertram, but the sight even of Mrs Norris would be a relief after so many days without seeing
another human creature besides themselves; and while Mary’s sympathy was for Sir Thomas’s wife and children, she could not but acknowledge that his sister-in-law might prove a more
useful and communicative source of intelligence.
    The church was crowded—especially so, given the unfavourable weather—and it soon became apparent that all the lookers-on of the neighbourhood had heard of Sir Thomas’s
misfortune, and hoped, like Mary, to gain some further news as to his condition. Mary felt ashamed to be part of such a general and importunate inquisitiveness, and all the more so, when she saw
Julia Bertram being hurried to the family pew by her aunt, to the audible whisperings of the rest of the congregation. A brief exchange of civilities was all that was possible before the service,
and Mary was relieved to find that Dr Grant made no reference to the events at the Park in his sermon, and the text for that Sunday was mercifully insipid; in Mary’s experience, Holy Writ had
an unpleasant habit of being only too horribly appropriate.
    When the service was over, the congregation hurried out into the church-yard, where the clouds had dispersed across the sky, and the sun had appeared for the first time in days. Mary shrank from
the throng surrounding Mrs Norris, especially when it became evident that she was more intent on receiving congratulations on her son’s forthcoming wedding, than commiserations for the
family’s sufferings. ‘If poor Sir Thomas were fated never to return,’ she was saying gaily, ‘it would be peculiarly consoling to see Edmund and our dear Fanny married. And
then, of course, I will be taking up residence with them at Lessingby Hall, which is unquestionably one of the finest houses in the country. The interiors alone cost the late Mr Price over
eight thousand pounds.’
    Mary took Julia’s arm, and led her gently to one side. She judged it best not to press her on the subject of her own health, and confined herself to asking after her
mother and sister.
    Julia shook her head sadly. ‘There is no change. My mother has been reduced to a pitiably low and trembling condition, starting at every knock at the door, impatient for every new message,
and then distraught when it comes, and brings no relief.’
    ‘And your sister?’
    ‘My dear Miss Crawford, I cannot tell you. She is one moment overwhelmed with grief, the next unaccountably light of heart, as if some intolerable weight had been lifted from her. And as
for Fanny, she keeps mostly to her room. Her maid tells me she has taken to walking in the garden in the early morning, before anyone else has risen, but the rest of the day she hides herself away,
and will see no-one.’
    Julia would have said more, but they were interrupted at that moment by Mrs Norris, who began to scold her niece for dawdling, when there was so much employment awaiting them at the Park.
    ‘Really, Julia, this is hardly the time for idle tittle-tattle. You know as well as I do that we still have the bridesmaids’ gowns to finish this afternoon. And after I have been
slaving myself half the night to contrive yours from what remains of that blue satin, you can at the very least give me your help in putting it together. There are but the seams, you know; you may
do them in a minute. I should think my self very lucky to have nothing but such a simple task to do, but I will have to give all my attention to the filigree for dear Fanny’s
veil— that will not stitch itself, I can tell you. And we have still not received those shoe-roses from Northampton, despite all the haberdasher’s assurances, and no doubt
the task will fall to me to resolve, as usual, and meanwhile here you are wasting your time gossiping.’
    Seeing tears in Julia’s eyes, Mary hastened to renew her offer of assistance. Mrs Norris was evidently surprised, and looked her up and down for a moment before replying, ‘Well, I
suppose you might be of some use for the hems. Any thing that does not shew, and requires little refinement, may perhaps be entrusted to you. If you care to come to the Park in the
morning, the