Murder at Mansfield Park

"I was just about to say the very same thing," said Mrs Norris, looking angrily at Dr Grant. "I do not know this particular play myself, but as Edmund is to act too, there can be no harm. I think I may answer for my own son, and I will venture to do the same for Sir Thomas. I only wish Mr Rushworth had known his own mind when the scene painter began, for there was the loss of half a day’s work on trees and clouds, when what we want now is cottages and alehouses."

"Pray excuse me, madam, but in this matter it is Miss Price who is to lead," replied Dr Grant, turning to Fanny. "You might simply say that, on examining the part of Agatha, you feel yourself unequal to it. That will be quite enough. The part will be made over to Miss Bertram or to Mary, and your delicacy honoured as it ought."

This picture of her own consequence had some effect, and for a moment Miss Price hesitated; but it was only for a moment. "Why, Dr Grant, that cannot be," she replied sweetly, with a glance across at Mary, "for Miss Crawford already has a part of her own. She is to be Amelia. Do you know the play, Miss Crawford?" she continued, rising and approaching Mary’s chair. "I would be very happy to lend you my copy. I am sure you will find it instructive; especially the third act, where you will find a scene which will interest you most particularly."

Mary had never seen Lovers’ Vows, but she knew enough of Miss Price to know that whatever her meaning, there could be no kindness intended to her in the remark. But Mr Rushworth having need, at that moment, of Miss Price’s advice on the subject of his dress, Mary was able to take up the book and retire to a seat next to Henry, who had likewise been perusing the play with no little curiosity.

"I am to be Count Cassel, I find," he said gloomily. "And, as such, to play the part of your suitor, my dear Mary. Knowing that we are to act together is the only piece of enjoyment I foresee in the entire business. This Count is a complete buffoon — nothing but empty-headed foolishness from beginning to end. Upon my word," he continued in an undertone, "we have made a pretty blunder in our casting of this confounded play! Here am I playing Count Cassel, a man who is “rich, and of great consequence”, two qualities to which I cannot, alas, lay any claim, whereas the whole part might have been written for Rushworth! This line here — “my elegant gun is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. You cannot find better work, or better taste” — and here — “The whole castle smells of his perfumery”. It is the man entire!"

Mary could not help laughing, and he continued, "My only remaining hope is that Count Cassel may succeed where Henry Crawford has failed."

"How so?"

"Why, by reclaiming the attention of Miss Price, who clearly admires the Count Cassels of the world more than the Henry Crawfords. But that being so," he said in a more serious tone, looking over towards the fireplace, "I fear for my fair disdain, for I suspect that Mr Rushworth resembles Count Cassel in more ways than one. Where is that speech in Act IV? Ah, here it is — “for a frivolous coxcomb, such as myself, to keep my word to a woman, would be deceit: ’tis not expected of me.”"

Mary did not know how to contradict him, and the two sat for some time in a thoughtful silence. It was some minutes more before Mary turned finally to the scene Miss Price had mentioned, and as she read it the colour flooded into her cheeks. She knew they had cast Edmund as Anhalt, but had known nothing of the part itself beyond the fact that the young man was a clergyman. That had seemed to promise few terrors, but she now comprehended that she would be required to act a scene with him in which the whole subject was love — a marriage of love was to be described by the gentleman, and very little short of a declaration of love to be made by the lady. She read, and read the scene again with many painful, many wondering emotions, and was thankful that Miss Price’s attention was still engrossed in the various refinements of Mr Rushworth’s attire. She could not yet face Fanny’s knowing looks, much less contemplate saying such words to Mr Norris before the rest of the company.