LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Edmund had determined that it belonged entirely to Fanny to chuse whether
her situation with regard to Crawford should be mentioned between them or not; and that if she did not lead the way, it should never be touched on by him; but ( after a day or two of mutual reserve, he was induced by his father to change his mind, and try what his influence might do for his friend... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Edmund had great things to hear on his return. Many surprises were awaiting him. The first that occurred was not least in interest: the appearance of Henry Crawford and his sister walking together through the village as he rode into it. He had concluded—he had meant them to be far distant. ( His absence had been extended beyond a fortnight purposely to avoid Miss Crawford... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

The conference was neither so short nor so conclusive as the lady had designed. The gentleman was not so easily satisfied. He had all the disposition to persevere that Sir Thomas could wish him. He had vanity, which strongly inclined him in the first place to think she did love him, though she might not know it herself; and which, secondly, ( when constrained at last to admit that she did know her own present feelings, convinced him that he should be able in time to make those feelings what he wished. )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park


Fanny had by no means forgotten Mr. Crawford when she awoke the next morning; but she remembered the purport of her note, and was not less sanguine as to its effect than she had been the night before. If Mr. Crawford would but go away! ( That was what she most earnestly desired... )

Librivox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Henry Crawford was at Mansfield Park again the next morning, and at an earlier hour than common visiting warrants. The two ladies were together in the breakfast–room, and, ( fortunately for him, Lady Bertram was on the very point of quitting it as he entered. )

We should be back to regular chapter posts on Monday. Apologies for the unexpected hiatus - elettaria is temporarily on a low-internet diet (horrors!) for health reasons and I'm not much better. We really should have checked each others' schedules beforehand ;) Normality - or what passes for it - should resume shortly.

Thank you for your patience, and there's still plenty of room for discussion on previously-posted chapters if you're looking for something on-topic to do in the meantime. :)

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Miss Crawford’s uneasiness was much lightened by this conversation, and she walked home again in spirits which might have defied almost another week of the same small party in the same bad weather, had they been put to the proof; but ( as that very evening brought her brother down from London again in quite, or more than quite, his usual cheerfulness, she had nothing farther to try her own. )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

The ball was over, and the breakfast was soon over too; the last kiss was given, and William was gone. Mr. Crawford had, as he foretold, been very punctual, and short and pleasant had been the meal.

( After seeing William to the last moment, Fanny walked back to the breakfast–room with a very saddened heart to grieve over the melancholy change... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Her uncle and both her aunts were in the drawing–room when Fanny went down. To the former she was an interesting object, and he saw with pleasure the general elegance of her appearance, and her being in remarkably good looks. ( The neatness and propriety of her dress was all that he would allow himself to commend in her presence... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

On reaching home Fanny went immediately upstairs to deposit this unexpected acquisition, this doubtful good of a necklace, in some favourite box in the East room, which held all her smaller treasures; but on opening the door, what was her surprise to find her cousin Edmund there writing at the table! ( Such a sight having never occurred before, was almost as wonderful as it was welcome. )

Librivox audiorecording of Mansfield Park


William’s desire of seeing Fanny dance made more than a momentary impression on his uncle. The hope of an opportunity, which Sir Thomas had then given, was not given to be thought of no more. ( He remained steadily inclined to gratify so amiable a feeling... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

The intercourse of the two families was at this period more nearly restored to what it had been in the autumn, than any member of the old intimacy had thought ever likely to be again. ( The return of Henry Crawford, and the arrival of William Price, had much to do with it... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Henry Crawford had quite made up his mind by the next morning to give another fortnight to Mansfield, and having sent for his hunters, and written a few lines of explanation to the Admiral, he looked round at his sister as he sealed and threw the letter from him, and seeing the coast clear of the rest of the family, said, with a smile, (  'And how do you think I mean to amuse myself, Mary, on the days that I do not hunt?...'  )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

“But why should Mrs. Grant ask Fanny?” said Lady Bertram. “How came she to think of asking Fanny? Fanny never dines there, you know, in this sort of way. I cannot spare her, and I am sure she does not want to go. Fanny, you do not want to go, do you?”

( “If you put such a question to her,” cried Edmund... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Fanny’s consequence increased on the departure of her cousins. ( Becoming, as she then did, the only young woman in the drawing–room... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Sir Thomas’s return made a striking change in the ways of the family, independent of Lovers’ Vows. Under his government, Mansfield was an altered place. ( Some members of their society sent away... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Edmund’s first object the next morning was to see his father alone, and give him a fair statement of the whole acting scheme, defending his own share in it as far only as he could then, in a soberer moment, feel his motives to deserve, and acknowledging, with perfect ingenuousness, that his concession had been attended with such partial good as to make his judgment in it very doubtful. ( He was anxious, while vindicating himself, to say nothing unkind of the others... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

How is the consternation of the party to be described? To the greater number it was a moment of absolute horror. ( Sir Thomas in the house!... )

What did you think of Lovers' Vows? How did reading it change your experience of the novel? And anything else you'd like to say about it, really.

(Don't forget that posting access is currently open to all members, please do put up discussions yourselves! I might extend the week off from the novel-posting to ten days, I have a friend staying till Thursday.)

What do you think of Fanny Price? How do you relate to her as a character? How do you find she functions as the novel's heroine?

As promised, we will now have a week's break between Volume I and Volume II. I've temporarily opened up the posting access, so you can all post your discussions, thoughts, article links, and whatever else that's relevant that you fancy, although please note that we mods reserve the right to remove posts if we feel it's necessary (unlikely, though). If you started talking about a point in a comment thread and the discussion never really got going, now's the time to resurrect it: I'd like to see that article about the Sotherton episode again, for instance.

Talk about anything that's happened in the novel so far, as well as the play, but if you're going to refer to the parts we've not read yet, and please don't be shy of doing so, just remember to be careful about your spoilers.

LJ-cuts should be put in posts that are longer than a short paragraph. Posts should be tagged with "mansfieldpark" and "discussion", plus "loversvows" if applicable.

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Everything was now in a regular train: theatre, actors, actresses, and dresses, were all getting forward; but though no other great impediments arose, Fanny found, before many days were past, that it was not all uninterrupted enjoyment to the party themselves, and that she had not to witness the continuance of such unanimity and delight as had been almost too much for her at first. ( Everybody began to have their vexation... )

For those of you who read Italian, may I wave you over to apuntate, a community which is just starting up. This will do the same as episodical, namely to post novels by instalments. It is about to start with The Count of Monte Cristo. Enjoy!

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

It was, indeed, a triumphant day to Mr. Bertram and Maria. Such a victory over Edmund’s discretion had been beyond their hopes, and was most delightful. ( There was no longer anything to disturb them in their darling project... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

It was not in Miss Crawford’s power to talk Fanny into any real forgetfulness of what had passed. When the evening was over, she went to bed full of it, her nerves still agitated by the shock of such an attack from her cousin Tom, so public and so persevered in, and her spirits sinking under her aunt’s unkind reflection and reproach. ( To be called into notice in such a manner... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Miss Crawford accepted the part very readily; and soon after Miss Bertram’s return from the Parsonage, Mr. Rushworth arrived, and another character was consequently cast. ( He had the offer of Count Cassel and Anhalt... )

LibriVox audiorecording of Mansfield Park

Fanny seemed nearer being right than Edmund had supposed. The business of finding a play that would suit everybody proved to be no trifle; and the carpenter had received his orders and taken his measurements, had suggested and removed at least two sets of difficulties, and having made the necessity of an enlargement of plan and expense fully evident, was already at work, while a play was still to seek. ( Other preparations were also in hand... )