Edmund Bertram's Diary

I was surprised to hear such ardor, and was just beginning to be uncomfortable at overhearing it when Baddeley brought in the tea. Crawford was obliged to move and I returned to the group. Fanny said no more but I felt she could not have been unmoved by Crawford’s protestations. I was expecting her to speak to me when he left but she kept silent. I did not ask her about him, for I did not want to press her. But as I have always been her confidant, I hope she will turn to me when she feels she needs someone to talk to.

Thursday 12 January

As I dressed this morning, I found myself wondering what Mary thought of her brother’s feelings for Fanny. I knew she was fond of Fanny, but I also knew that she had a high regard for wealth and distinction, and I thought she might feel that Henry should unite himself to both. I rode over to Thornton Lacey and found that the work was going on apace. There was already a difference in the size of the farmyard and Jackson was at work on the door. The fine weather was helpful, and I went round to the stables to ascertain whether there would be room to keep my horses as well as a mount for Mary. There would, perhaps, be enough room but I felt it would be better to extend the stables, something which could be easily done, and I spoke to Jackson about it before leaving.

Returning to Mansfield Park, I found myself wondering again about Mary’s view on her brother’s choice of bride. We were dining at the Parsonage, and I resolved to broach the subject, but in the event there was no need, for she began to speak of it herself not five minutes after I had arrived.

‘Well, Mr. Bertram, and what do you think of my brother and Miss Price?’ she asked. Mrs. Grant laughed at her for her rapidity, saying, ‘Mary, give Mr. Bertram time to sit down, at least!’

‘But I want to know,’ she said.

‘I confess I was surprised,’ I returned.

‘Were you? I was not. I have been seeing his attachment for some time, and seeing it with pleasure. There is not a better girl in all the world than Fanny Price. Her gentleness and gratitude are of no common stamp, and I am glad that Henry has seen it. She has nothing of ambition in her, and she is the only woman I have ever met who would not be swayed by Henry’s fortune and his estate. Only love will do for Fanny Price.’

‘There you are right,’ I said.

‘Such a beautiful girl,’ said Mrs. Grant. ‘Henry has been full of her charms. Her face and figure, her graces of manner and goodness of heart are exhaustless themes with him. He talks of nothing else.’

‘Unless it be her temper, which he has good reason to depend on and praise. He has often seen it tried, for Mrs. Norris is unstinting in her criticisms, and yet Fanny never answers her sharply,’

said Mary.

‘No, indeed, I have never heard her speak a word of complaint, ’ said Mrs. Grant.

‘She is sometimes too forbearing, and needs a champion,’ I said.

‘Oh! Henry will champion her, should there ever be a need, but why will there be, when he takes her away to her own home? There will be no aunt there to criticize her, only a husband who loves her, and a staff whose business it will be to make sure she is comfortable in every way. There is only one fault I have to find in her, and that is that she has refused Henry. For that I am very angry with her!’

But she said it with a laugh in her voice and a sparkle in her eye, so that I knew she was only teasing.

‘He has taken her by surprise,’ said Mrs. Grant wisely. ‘Such a quiet, unassuming girl, would be overwhelmed at so sudden a proposal. But let her get used to the idea, and she will soon give him the answer he deserves. Her affections, once they take hold, are strong. We have seen it with her brother.’

‘Yes, she loves William as no girl has ever loved a brother before,’ said Mary with delight. ‘It is sweetness itself to see them together.’

‘There she owes your brother a great debt,’ I said. ‘It was very good of him to take William to see the Admiral.’

‘He thinks nothing of it,’ said Mary. ‘He was glad to do everything in his power to assist William, because he knew that, by assisting William, he was pleasing the woman he loves.’

‘And her understanding is so good,’ said Mrs. Grant.

‘It is beyond everything, quick and clear,’ said Mary.

I was heartened by her words, for they showed she had the goodness I had always expected her of, for how else would she be able to value Fanny’s true worth?

‘Such steadiness and regularity of conduct, such a high notion of honor, and such an observance of decorum—’

‘Any man might depend on her faith and integrity. He will be able to absolutely confide in her,’ said Mary.

‘It was a happy day, indeed, when he met her,’ said Mrs. Grant.