Chapter 10 Acting the part

Mansfield Park did seem a bit calmer than it usually was. Fanny was glad to notice that Mrs Norris didn't give her as much of her attention as usual. It helped Fanny in her recovery from Sotherton. She never forgot, but her nightmares slowly disappeared and she didn't feel as on edge as before.

Mr Crawford returned and they continued as before, although riding became less frequent since the weather started to turn towards autumn and brought storm and rain.
Mr Crawford had congratulated her on her right guess as to the horse and then he continued to tell her in more detail about all the goings on at Everingham. She told him about all that had occurred at Mansfield when he was away, which was not much.

And then, one day in October, without warning, Tom arrived with a friend. Nobody knew where he had been, for his correspondence during his absence was minimal. Lady Bertram was happy to see her son again and his sisters were relieved for they hoped he and his friend would bring some excitement back into their lives. They thought life had become rather dull in the past weeks.
Henry and Mary were visiting at that moment so they too heard about what Tom had been doing. It turned out he had been for some weeks at Ascot and then continued on to London. There he had made some new friends who had invited him to join them to their estate near Weymouth. That is where he had met Mr Yates and, although their acquaintance was only recently begun, Tom was pleased enough by his character and disposition to invite him to Mansfield Park. While Tom had stayed on in Weymouth, Mr Yates had visited friends in Ecclesford in Cornwall. Then they met each other again when both of them were on their way to Mansfield Park and therefore they arrived together.

During the introductions, Henry could see Lady Bertram was quite pleased with the young man, who had flattered her with his greeting. He then noticed the exact moment Mr Yates saw Fanny for the first time. His eyes got big and his mouth opened. "It is an honour to meet you, Miss Price," the man said with a deep bow.
"Mr Yates!" Fanny's greeting was graceful but reserved.

Henry kept his eyes on Mr Yates to find out what sort of man he was. He appeared a good sort of man, if only a bit shallow. When Tom was telling his story, Yates was staring at Fanny. Henry could see Fanny pretended not to notice and was bent over her work.
"So that's what we did at Weymouth," ended Tom his story. "Now Yates, you should tell what you have been doing in Ecclesford. It ended in quite a disappointment, did it not?"

When Yates did not react, Tom nudged him.
Yates took his eyes off Fanny with some reluctance, but then told about his visit to his good friend Lord Ravenshaw. The disappointment lay in the fact that they had been acting a play and they had been very near representation – just two days – when there was news of the grandmother of Lord Ravenshaw having died. "Had they only kept the news quiet for a few more days, we would have been on our way to fame. But Lord Ravenshaw was adamant to have it all over. I cannot really see why, for the lady lived some two hundred miles away."

He then talked about the play ( Lovers' vows), about his own role (not very important, but not bad nonetheless), the other actors, their rehearsals, etc. etc. Maria and Julia were quite engrossed in what he was telling so they kept asking him questions and it was clear that Yates did not mind at all to be talking about it.

Henry himself was quite interested. He had never acted before but he would love to do it one day. He always enjoyed reading plays and a few times had been able to do it in this very company.
The sisters and Tom began talking about doing some theatre themselves. Yates was enthusiastic as this might be a way he could still act.
The conversation went on as to how they would do it, which room would be suitable, which play, etc. etc. Henry talked along happily, but he did notice that both Edmund and Fanny did not seem very charmed by the idea. "Tom, do not take this too far," Edmund warned. "Father will not like it." Tom protested against this and reasoned why it would be such a nice thing to do. "I am sure mother will benefit from the distraction."
Different plays were mentioned and some of the party were inclined to do a comedy whereas others preferred a tragedy.
Edmund looked quite grave. Fanny bent a little towards him and said in a low voice: "I daresay they will never be able to agree on what play they will all want. It might all come to nothing you know!"
This seemed to lighten Edmund up a bit.
Henry allowed a little smile. Fanny knew how to give some encouragement. And he thought she might be right, for the opinions of different people varied greatly.

The conversation went onto other topics.
Suddenly Henry was approached by Tom. "Crawford," the man said. "When I was at Ascot I heard the name of your estate mentioned."
"Did you? In what circumstance?"
"One of the winning horses was said to be bred at Everingham."
"Ah yes. We do breed mainly racing horses so I guess it happens occasionally that Everingham is mentioned. Although I love horses, I am not really fond of races myself, so I do not hear much news about it either, besides what is in the newspapers."
Tom could not understand how someone could not love the races. Then he asked: "So what type of horse do you breed?"
"The past few years mainly Hunters and Arabs. In the past we used to breed Thoroughbreds ourselves, but lately we have only hired out a few of our best stallions to be used for mating by others who are specialised."

Even though Fanny appeared to be engrossed in her work, Henry could see she was listening.
"And does your estate do the training for horses to become racehorses?"
"Not recently," Henry answered. "We break them of course, but it is too much work to train them for races, so we sell them to a renowned trainer, who then sells them on after the training is completed."
"What happens to your mares?" Fanny asked. Henry smiled. He knew she had been listening.
"They are sold on, mainly to serve as lady's riding horses or carriage horses."

"Fanny!" Tom said, now it seemed that she was paying attention. "How are you? You look well. Are you still riding that old mare?"
"I am well, thank you. And Ariel is not old, but I do still ride her."
Tom laughed. "It is only a manner of speaking. But you seem much stronger. Is it the riding?"
Fanny coloured. She didn't really like the attention.
"Except in the past few weeks –because of the weather – I have been riding nearly every day. I do feel stronger for it. Someone," here she looked slightly in Henry's direction. "… gave me some advice as to my seating and it has helped me a lot. I am not in pain anymore and can go much faster than I was accustomed to."
"Well, well Fanny. Good on you. Who would have thought it: little Fanny Price galloping around in the area."

"Fanny! What are you speaking about? Come, I think your aunt has need of you," came Mrs Norris' shrill voice.
Tom looked over, annoyed at the interruption.
"Aunt Norris, my mother is asleep. She cannot possibly be in need of Fanny. Why do you need to interrupt our conversation?"
"Because," Mrs Norris sounded a bit indignant. "Fanny should remember her place and it is not right for her to speak so freely in such a conversation."
"Oh I am sure she will not forget her place," Tom now sounded sarcastic. "For you remind her every day. I instigated this conversation and she should be free to talk as she pleases."
Mrs Norris didn't reply, but her fiery eyes told that she was not pleased to be scolded.

Fanny herself looked mortified. To be talked about in such a manner. Of course Tom meant well, but it only made it worse, for Mrs Norris would blame her for it.

Tom just shrugged and then asked her what the farthest was she had been on horseback. With a voice, slightly shaky at first, she answered, glancing at Henry meanwhile.
They had been on that ride together. It had been a magnificent ride! They had galloped a great part of the way there, then had rested a while and then rode back. It gave him a thrill to see how much she was improved!

Henry made sure he did not add to the conversation between Tom and Fanny, for Mrs Norris was eyeing them with a disapproving look and he did not want to make it worse for Fanny.

Mrs Norris was not finished however. This time she spoke to Julia: "Julia, make sure to provide Mr Crawford with a drink, will you? I believe he finished his current drink." Without waiting for any reactions from the parties involved, she turned to Mr Yates. "Ah Mr Yates, we are all so happy that our dear Maria is about to marry Mr Rushworth. He is such a distinguished amiable young man. And we are now waiting for Mr Crawford to declare himself to our Julia. Aren't they a splendid match?!" This last was said not very loud, but nonetheless most people in the room heard.
"Aunt Norris!" was the immediate horrified reaction of not only the lady in question but also from her two brothers. Julia then continued: "How could you say such nonsense, aunt Norris! There is no truth in that statement, I assure you!"

Henry himself was very indignant. How dare this woman assume such things! And to a stranger no less! What must Yates think?
Edmund spoke up: "I apologise for my aunt, Mr Yates. She has no idea what she is speaking of."
Mrs Norris seemed to have lost reason. "But it is such a good match! Promise me Julia, to accept when Mr Crawford offers for you."
Julia coloured deeply at this. "I would not."
"And I would not ask," Henry had to say something. He felt deeply mortified by this conversation.
"Aunt, I think it is best to stop talking about this!" Tom said firmly and then deliberately suggested they play cards. Even Lady Bertram woke up and wanted to join, although she said Fanny should help her.

Henry was happy to have some distraction. Was there really no end to that woman's awful behaviour?
He sat down with the Lady of the house, Fanny and Tom.
Soon he was calming down again, for it was most amusing to play cards with Lady Bertram. She did not understand half of the game and all three her companions had to help her to play. Henry was helping Fanny, who did not know much of the game herself, having hardly had the chance to play it before.

Mrs Norris had left the room, presumably to go to her own house. Everyone in the room seemed to be able to breathe more freely now that she was gone.

Henry saw Yates in animated conversation with Julia. It seemed the man had transferred his admiration from Fanny to Julia. The latter might suit him better in disposition. Henry was glad of it. Fanny could do without yet another man vying for her attention.

After cards, before the party broke up, the subject of the acting scheme was mentioned again. Most people in the room were eager to continue planning to perform a play themselves. So they resolved to continue the discussion the next day.
"Mr Rushworth will be of the party tomorrow and I am sure he would be happy to join us in our theatre as well," Maria said.

Henry caught the sour looks of both Edmund and Fanny at this news. They knew to be alert again.
Henry was happy that he and Mary were now so frequent at the great house that they need not wait for an invitation to visit. This made it much easier for himself to keep an eye on Fanny.

When he walked home that evening, he thought back at what Mrs Norris had said. He was sure she was the only person having expectations that he would offer for Julia. He was glad that Julia didn't expect anything of him. She was a nice girl and he tolerated her company well enough as a friend, but she was nothing in comparison with Fanny, with whom he could discuss all sorts of things and who, besides that, also had much more substance. Julia was rather a shallow sort of girl with not much more to talk about besides fashion and the latest gossip.

He asked Mary: "I am quite sure Mrs Norris is the only person thinking I would offer for Julia, right? As far as I know I haven't raised any expectations on that subject."
"Well, who knows?" teased Mary. "But no. I believe you are safe! That woman is mad, but that is no news. But I cannot understand why she had to say that, and especially to a stranger! I wonder what Yates thinks now. He cannot have a high opinion, at least not of her."
Henry nodded. "I hope he will forget all of this very soon and will keep his mouth shut to others about it."

"If you're afraid of him gossiping about you, best be also careful with your attention to Fanny. I guess you're trying to not raise any expectations or have rumours started, but sometimes your feelings slip through. Brother, be careful. Imagine what that woman would say if she knew of your infatuation with her niece."

"Heaven beware!" he said. "I am careful and will be guarded. Until I am sure of her returning my feelings that is."
"Really, Henry? You can do much better than Fanny Price. Although I must admit that I like her exceedingly. She has become a good friend. But her low birth must be an obstacle surely."
"I do not care for low birth or her having no money. I value her much more than whether or not she has what society expects. It's her character that is important to me!
But I will be her friend as long as she will allow it and I hope that one day she will come to love me in return!"

Mary did not reply to that. She was astonished at his apparent feelings for Fanny and the strength of them.

A.N. So Mrs Norris is starting to crack... Tell me what you think of the story so far.