Letheringsett Watermill in Norfolk was built in 1802, only a few years before ‘Mansfield Park’ was published. It is still in operation, both as Norfolk’s only flour-producing watermill and as a tourist attraction. A mill has stood on this site since at least the 14th century. See the mill’s website.
Henry Crawford is speaking to Fanny Price.
“IS there anything I can do for you in town? I have half an idea of going into Norfolk again soon. I am not satisfied about Maddison. I am sure he still means to impose on me if possible, and get a cousin of his own into a certain mill, which I design for somebody else.
“The mischief such a man does on an estate, both as to the credit of his employer and the welfare of the poor, is inconceivable. It would be worse than simple to let him give me a hard-hearted, griping fellow for a tenant, instead of an honest man, to whom I have given half a promise already. Shall I go? Do you advise it?”
“I advise! You know very well what is right.”
“Yes. When you give me your opinion, I always know what is right. Your judgment is my rule of right.”
“Oh, no! do not say so. We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be. Good-bye; I wish you a pleasant journey to-morrow.”
Précis
Henry Crawford thought Fanny Price, so upright and principled, would be flattered to be asked to act as his conscience. But to his surprise, she was horrified at the idea of exercising so much power over another person, and having urged him to take responsibility for his own decisions, left him as quickly as she could. (56 / 60 words)
