@@@@@The soup would be sent round in a most 941
@@@@@The
soup would be sent round in a most spiritless manner, wine drank
without any smiles or agreeable trifling, and the venison cut up
without supplying one pleasant anecdote of any former haunch, or
a single entertaining story, about ?my friend such a one She must
try to find amusement in what was passing at the upper end of the
table, and in observing MrRushworth, who was now making his
appearance at Mansfield for the first time since the Crawfords? arrival
He had been visiting a friend in the neighbouring county, and
that friend having recently had his grounds laid out by an improver,
MrRushworth was returned with his head full of the subject, and
very eager to be improving his own place in the same way; and
though not saying much to the purpose, could talk of nothing else
The subject had been already handled in the drawing-room; it was
revived in the dining-parlourMiss Bertram?s attention and opinion
was evidently his chief aim; and though her deportment showed
rather conscious superiority than any solicitude to oblige him, the
mention of Sotherton Court, and the ideas attached to it, gave her a
feeling of complacency, which prevented her from being very ungracious
?I wish you could see Compton,? said he; ?it is the most complete
thing! I never saw a place so altered in my lifeI told Smith I did not
46
Mansfield Park
know where I wasThe approach now, is one of the finest things in
the country: you see the house in the most surprising mannerI
declare, when I got back to Sotherton yesterday, it looked like a
prison?quite a dismal old prison
?Oh, for shame!? cried Mrs?A prison indeed? Sotherton
Court is the noblest old place in the world
?It wants improvement, ma?am, beyond anythingI never saw a
place that wanted so much improvement in my life; and it is so
forlorn that I do not know what can be done with itRushworth should think so at present,?
said MrsNorris, with a smile; ?but depend upon it,
Sotherton will have every improvement in time which his heart can
desire
?I must try to do something with it,? said MrRushworth, ?but I
do not know whatI hope I shall have some good friend to help me
?Your best friend upon such an occasion,? said Miss Bertram
calmly, ?would be Mr
?That is what I was thinking ofAs he has done so well by Smith, I
think I had better have him at onceHis terms are five guineas a day
?Well, and if they were ten,? cried Mr
