Mansfield Park Ch. 43: Mary's Letter

Summary

Mr Crawford is presumed to have gone back to London. Two days later Fanny reads a letter from his sister. Mary tells her that Henry has been to Portsmouth to see her, with a walk to the dockyard on Saturday and another on the ramparts the next day. Mary adds that she and Henry would like to take Fanny back into Northamptonshire, and says she must not stay at Portsmouth to lose her pretty looks.

Fanny runs through the letter eagerly, then reads it again. The only certainty is that nothing decisive has happened. Edmund has not yet spoken. She grows unsettled and her lessons with Susan are put off for a few days. In time she is composed again. Susan grows fond of her and wants not to appear ignorant. Their talk often turns to Mansfield Park: its people, manners, amusements, and ways.

In this chapter: Key Quotes

Why This Matters

Reading Charm Against Character

Learn to hear what the Crawfords say, and what they do when it costs them something. Mr Crawford is presumed to have gone back to London.

Watch what someone does when it costs them something, not only what they say they feel.

Coming Up in Chapter 44

At last the one letter from Edmund arrives, and it is a long one.

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Original text

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Chapter 43

Mary's Letter

It was presumed that Mr. Crawford was travelling back, to London, on the morrow, for nothing more was seen of him at Mr. Price’s; and two days afterwards, it was a fact ascertained to Fanny by the following letter from his sister, opened and read by her, on another account, with the most anxious curiosity:— “I have to inform you, my dearest Fanny, that Henry has been down to Portsmouth to see you; that he had a delightful walk with you to the dockyard last Saturday, and one still more to be dwelt on the next day, on the ramparts;…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

12 minutes

Practise Reading Charm Against Character

Write six lines on Mary's Letter: who asked, who paid, and what you would have said. Keep it to this chapter.

Consider:

•The working skill is Reading Charm Against Character.
•Use only beats from this chapter.
•Name a cost, not a slogan.

Master this chapter. Complete your experience

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Summary

In this chapter: Key Quotes