Mansfield Park: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

The next day, Edmund asks Fanny what she thinks of Mary. Fanny says she enjoys Mary’s engaging way of speaking and her beauty. Edmund agrees, but asks Fanny if anything that Mary said struck her as “not quite right.” Fanny mentions Mary’s way of speaking of her uncle struck her as improper. Edmund agrees that she should not openly reveal such opinions in public. They go on to discuss Mary at length, with Edmund giving a much more positive opinion of her.

Edmund goes to the Parsonage daily once Mary’s harp arrives to listen to her play, and in doing so becomes more and more fond of her, until he is totally in love. Mary, who previous was uninterested in Edmund, begins to find him intriguing. Fanny is surprised by Edmund’s tolerance of Mary’s company more generally, despite the faults they already pointed out together, and which continue to annoy Fanny.

Edmund’s attention towards Mary becomes especially hurtful when he starts using the mare he acquired for Fanny to teach Mary to ride. The first time, this does not bother Fanny, nor does it keep her from riding. But the second time, Mary and Edmund keep the horse out so long that Fanny misses her chance to ride. When Fanny goes to look for them, she finds a whole party (including Mary and Edmund, as well as the Grants and Henry) gathered without her to watch Mary ride. Fanny is extremely hurt that Edmund would forget her.

Fanny, afraid of being noticed by the party and seeming impatient for her turn, walks over and says hello to the party. Mary apologizes for keeping her waiting. Fanny responds politely and Mary dismounts and wishes Fanny a pleasant ride.

Fanny is lifted on to her horse and starts her ride, watching with sadness as the group walks together to the village. The coachman comments that Mary is an exceedingly good horsewoman, comparing her to Fanny, which further annoys her.

As everyone goes to bed that night, Edmund asks Fanny if she plans on riding tomorrow, because he would like to take Mary to the Commons, a longer ride. Fanny says she is not. The next day, Mary, Edmund, Henry, and several others ride to Mansfield Commons. They enjoy the ride so much that they decide to go out on a far ride again the following day. This pattern repeats itself for four days in a row, so the Crawfords can begin to know the countryside.

On the fourth day of these long rides, Edmund and Julia are invited to dinner at the Parsonage, but Maria is not because Mr. Rushworth is supposed to pay a visit to Mansfield. Still, the lack of an invitation upsets Maria. When Mr. Rushworth does not end up coming to visit, she is even angrier.

When Edmund and Julia return from dinner, the atmosphere of the drawing room, clouded by Maria’s bad mood, is sullen. Edmund finds Fanny lying on the sofa at the other end of the room. Mrs. Norris then scolds Fanny for lying down instead of doing work. Edmund perceives that Fanny looks unwell, and Fanny admits that she has a headache.

Mrs. Norris explains that Fanny went out to cut roses for Lady Bertram while Lady Bertram sat outside, and she walked to Mrs. Norris’s house twice that day to drop off the roses. When Edmund hears that Fanny has been overexerting herself, he is very angry and argues that someone else should have been sent to bring the roses to the White House.

Mrs. Norris defends herself, saying she makes the same walk all the time. Edmund responds by pointing out that, unlike Fanny, Mrs. Norris is in good health. Mrs. Norris then points out that Fanny would be in better health if she could go out riding.

Edmund does not respond to these comments, and instead brings Fanny a glass of wine. Fanny has started to cry. Edmund is annoyed at his mother and aunt, but especially annoyed at himself for neglecting Fanny and allowing her to go four days without riding or companionship. He resolves never to let it happen again.

Fanny goes to bed, and though she has been feeling very sad and her head hurts, she is suddenly incredibly happy about Edmund’s concern for her and his kindness towards her.