Mr. Repton is a real person, Humphry Repton, who is mentioned in Mansfield Park. He is employed to improve the estate of a friend of James Rushworth's, owner of the grand estate known as Sotherton Court. Maria Bertram and Mr. Rushworth thought that Mr. Repton would be good to design needed improvements for the park. Mrs Norris thought he would be a good choice because he was expensive! Rushworth thought he would be a good fit because he managed to make one of his other acquaintance's estate the talk of the town, when previously it had nothing going for it.