Page:Austen - Mansfield Park, vol. I, 1814.djvu/167

This page has been validated.

( 159 )

pressed and persuaded, was not long in accepting her share of the civility. Mr. Rushworth came back from the parsonage successful; and Edmund made his appearance just in time to learn what had been settled for Wednesday, to attend Mrs. Rushworth to her carriage, and walk half way down the park with the two other ladies.

On his return to the breakfast-room, he found Mrs. Norris trying to make up her mind as to whether Miss Crawford's being of the party were desirable or not, or whether her brother's barouche would not be full without her. The Miss Bertrams laughed at the idea, assuring her that the barouche would hold four perfectly well, independent of the box, on which one might go with him.

"But why is it necessary, said Edmund, that Crawford's carriage, or his only should be employed? Why is no use to be made of my mother's chaise? I could not, when the scheme was first mentioned the other day, understand

why