CHAPTER VI

Mr.Bertramsetofffor————,andMissCrawfordwaspreparedtofindagreatchasmintheirsociety,andtomisshimdecidedlyinthemeetingswhichwerenowbecomingalmostdailybetweenthefamiliesandontheiralldiningtogetherattheParksoonafterhisgoing,sheretookherchosenplacenearthebottomofthetable,fullyexpectingtofeelamostmelancholydifferenceinthechangeofmasters.Itwouldbeaveryflatbusiness,shewassure.Incomparisonwithhisbrother,Edmundwouldhavenothingtosay.Thesoupwouldbesentroundinamostspiritlessmanner,winedrankwithoutanysmilesoragreeabletrifling,andthevenisoncutupwithoutsupplyingonepleasantanecdoteofanyformerhaunch,orasingleentertainingstory,about“myfriendsuchaone.”Shemusttrytofindamusementinwhatwaspassingattheupperendofthetable,andinobservingMr.Rushworth,whowasnowmakinghisappearanceatMansfieldforthefirsttimesincetheCrawfords’arrival.Hehadbeenvisitingafriendintheneighbouringcounty,andthatfriendhavingrecentlyhadhisgroundslaidoutbyanimprover,Mr.Rushworthwasreturnedwithhisheadfullofthesubject,andveryeagertobeimprovinghisownplaceinthesamewayandthoughnotsayingmuchtothepurpose,couldtalkofnothingelse.Thesubjecthadbeenalreadyhandledinthedrawing-roomitwasrevivedinthedining-parlour.MissBertram’sattentionandopinionwasevidentlyhischiefaimandthoughherdeportmentshowedratherconscioussuperioritythananysolicitudetoobligehim,thementionofSothertonCourt,andtheideasattachedtoit,gaveherafeelingofcomplacency,whichpreventedherfrombeingveryungracious. “IwishyoucouldseeCompton,”saidhe“itisthemostcompletething!Ineversawaplacesoalteredinmylife.ItoldSmithIdidnotknowwhereIwas.Theapproachnow,isoneofthefinestthingsinthecountry:youseethehouseinthemostsurprisingmanner.Ideclare,whenIgotbacktoSothertonyesterday,itlookedlikeaprison—quiteadismaloldprison.” “Oh,forshame!”criedMrs.Norris.“Aprisonindeed?SothertonCourtisthenoblestoldplaceintheworld.” “Itwantsimprovement,ma’am,beyondanything.IneversawaplacethatwantedsomuchimprovementinmylifeanditissoforlornthatIdonotknowwhatcanbedonewithit.” “NowonderthatMr.Rushworthshouldthinksoatpresent,”saidMrs.GranttoMrs.Norris,withasmile“butdependuponit,Sothertonwillhaveeveryimprovementintimewhichhisheartcandesire.” “Imusttrytodosomethingwithit,”saidMr.Rushworth,“butIdonotknowwhat.IhopeIshallhavesomegoodfriendtohelpme.” “Yourbestfrienduponsuchanoccasion,”saidMissBertramcalmly,“wouldbeMr.Repton,Iimagine.” “ThatiswhatIwasthinkingof.AshehasdonesowellbySmith,IthinkIhadbetterhavehimatonce.Histermsarefiveguineasaday.” “Well,andiftheywereten,”criedMrs.Norris,“Iamsureyouneednotregardit.Theexpenseneednotbeanyimpediment.IfIwereyou,Ishouldnotthinkoftheexpense.Iwouldhaveeverythingdoneinthebeststyle,andmadeasniceaspossible.SuchaplaceasSothertonCourtdeserveseverythingthattasteandmoneycando.Youhavespacetoworkuponthere,andgroundsthatwillwellrewardyou.Formyownpart,ifIhadanythingwithinthefiftiethpartofthesizeofSotherton,Ishouldbealwaysplantingandimproving,fornaturallyIamexcessivelyfondofit.ItwouldbetooridiculousformetoattemptanythingwhereIamnow,withmylittlehalfacre.Itwouldbequiteaburlesque.ButifIhadmoreroom,Ishouldtakeaprodigiousdelightinimprovingandplanting.WedidavastdealinthatwayattheParsonage:wemadeitquiteadifferentplacefromwhatitwaswhenwefirsthadit.Youyoungonesdonotremembermuchaboutit,perhapsbutifdearSirThomaswerehere,hecouldtellyouwhatimprovementswemade:andagreatdealmorewouldhavebeendone,butforpoorMr.Norris’ssadstateofhealth.Hecouldhardlyevergetout,poorman,toenj