of fault which he had already observed, and of
which she was almost always reminded by a something of the same nature whenever
she was in her company; but so it was. Edmund was fond of speaking to her of
Miss Crawford, but he seemed to think it enough that the admiral had since been
spared; and she scrupled to point out her own remarks to him, lest it should
appear like ill-nature. The first actual pain which Miss Crawford occasioned
her, was the consequence of an inclination to learn to ride, which the former
caught soon after her being settled at Mansfield from the example of the young
ladies at the park, and which, when Edmund's acquaintance with her increased,
led to his encouraging the wish, and the offer of his own quiet mare for the
purpose of her first attempts, as the best fitted for a beginner that either
stable could furnish. No pain, no injury, however, was designed by him to his
cousin in this offer: she was not to lose a day's exercise by it. The mare was
only to be taken down to the parsonage half an hour before her ride were to
begin; and Fanny, on its being first proposed, so far from feeling slighted, was
almost overpowered with gratitude that he should be asking her leave for it.
    Miss Crawford made her first essay with great credit to herself, and no
inconvenience to Fanny. Edmund, who had taken down the mare and presided at the
whole, returned with it in excellent time, before either Fanny or the steady old
coachman, who always attended her when she rode without her cousins, were ready
to set forward. The second day's trial was not so guiltless. Miss Crawford's
enjoyment of riding was such, that she did not know how to leave off. Active and
fearless, and, though rather small, strongly made, she seemed formed for a
horsewoman; and to the pure genuine pleasure of the exercise, something was
probably added in Edmund's attendance and instructions, and something more in
the conviction of very much surpassing her sex in general by her early progress,
to make her unwilling to dismount. Fanny was ready and waiting, and Mrs. Norris
was beginning to scold her for not being gone, and still no horse was announced,
no Edmund appeared. To avoid her aunt, and look for him, she went out.
    The houses, though scarcely half a mile apart, were not within sight of each
other; but by walking fifty yards from the hall door, she could look down the
park,