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1"There is a great deal of truth in what you say," replied Sir Thomas, "and far be it from me to throw any fanciful
2impediment in the way of a plan which would be so consistent with the relative situations of each. I only meant to
3observe that it ought not to be lightly engaged in, and that to make it really serviceable to Mrs. Price, and creditable
4to ourselves, we must secure to the child, or consider ourselves engaged to secure to her hereafter, as circumstances
5may arise, the provision of a gentlewoman, if no such establishment should offer as you are so sanguine in expecting."
6"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, "you are everything that is generous and considerate, and I am sure we
7shall never disagree on this point. Whatever I can do, as you well know, I am always ready enough to do for the good of
8those I love; and, though I could never feel for this little girl the hundredth part of the regard I bear your own dear
9children, nor consider her, in any respect, so much my own, I should hate myself if I were capable of neglecting her. Is
10not she a sister's child? and could I bear to see her want while I had a bit of bread to give her? My dear Sir Thomas,
11with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of life than do an
12ungenerous thing. So, if you are not against it, I will write to my poor sister tomorrow, and make the proposal; and, as
13soon as matters are settled, I will engage to get the child to Mansfield; you shall have no trouble about it. My own
14trouble, you know, I never regard. I will send Nanny to London on purpose, and she may have a bed at her cousin the
15saddler's, and the child be appointed to meet her there. They may easily get her from Portsmouth to town by the coach,
16under the care of any creditable person that may chance to be going. I dare say there is always some reputable
17tradesman's wife or other going up." Except to the attack on Nanny's cousin, Sir Thomas no longer made any objection,
18and a more respectable, though less economical rendezvous being accordingly substituted, everything was considered as
19settled, and the pleasures of so benevolent a scheme were already enjoyed. The division of gratifying sensations ought
20not, in strict justice, to have been equal; for Sir Thomas was fully resolved to be the real and consistent patron of
21the selected child, and Mrs. Norris had not the least intention of being at any expense whatever in her maintenance. As
22far as walking, talking, and contriving reached, she was thoroughly benevolent, and nobody knew better how to dictate
23liberality to others; but her love of money was equal to her love of directing, and she knew quite as well how to save
24her own as to spend that of her friends. Having married on a narrower income than she had been used to look forward to,
25she had, from the first, fancied a very strict line of economy necessary; and what was begun as a matter of prudence,
26soon grew into a matter of choice, as an object of that needful solicitude which there were no children to supply. Had
27there been a family to provide for, Mrs. Norris might never have saved her money; but having no care of that kind, there
28was nothing to impede her frugality, or lessen the comfort of making a yearly addition to an income which they had never
29lived up to. Under this infatuating principle, counteracted by no real affection for her sister, it was impossible for
30her to aim at more than the credit of projecting and arranging so expensive a charity; though perhaps she might so
31little know herself as to walk home to the Parsonage, after this conversation, in the happy belief of being the most
32liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world. When the subject was brought forward again, her views were more fully
33explained; and, in reply to Lady Bertram's calm inquiry of "Where shall the child come to first, sister, to you or to
34us?" Sir Thomas heard with some surprise that it would be totally out of Mrs. Norris's power to take any share in the
35personal charge of her. He had been considering her as a particularly welcome addition at the Parsonage, as a desirable
36companion to an aunt who had no children of her own; but he found himself wholly mistaken. Mrs. Norris was sorry to say
37that the little girl's staying with them, at least as things then were, was quite out of the question. Poor Mr. Norris's
38indifferent state of health made it an impossibility: he could no more bear the noise of a child than he could fly; if,
39indeed, he should ever get well of his gouty complaints, it would be a different matter: she should then be glad to take
40her turn, and think nothing of the inconvenience; but just now, poor Mr. Norris took up every moment of her time, and
41the very mention of such a thing she was sure would distract him. "Then she had better come to us," said Lady Bertram,
42with the utmost composure. After a short pause Sir Thomas added with dignity, "Yes, let her home be in this house. We
43will endeavour to do our duty by her, and she will, at least, have the advantage of companions of her own age, and of a
44regular instructress." "Very true," cried Mrs. Norris, "which are both very important considerations; and it will be
45just the same to Miss Lee whether she has three girls to teach, or only two--there can be no difference. I only wish I
46could be more useful; but you see I do all in my power. I am not one of those that spare their own trouble; and Nanny
47shall fetch her, however it may put me to inconvenience to have my chief counsellor away for three days. I suppose,
48sister, you will put the child in the little white attic, near the old nurseries. It will be much the best place for
49her, so near Miss Lee, and not far from the girls, and close by the housemaids, who could either of them help to dress
50her, you know, and take care of her clothes, for I suppose you would not think it fair to expect Ellis to wait on her as
51well as the others. Indeed, I do not see that you could possibly place her anywhere else." Lady Bertram made no
52opposition. "I hope she will prove a well-disposed girl," continued Mrs. Norris, "and be sensible of her uncommon good
53fortune in having such friends." "Should her disposition be really bad," said Sir Thomas, "we must not, for our own
54children's sake, continue her in the family; but there is no reason to expect so great an evil. We shall probably see
55much to wish altered in her, and must prepare ourselves for gross ignorance, some meanness of opinions, and very
56distressing vulgarity of manner; but these are not incurable faults; nor, I trust, can they be dangerous for her
57associates. Had my daughters been younger than herself, I should have considered the introduction of such a companion as
58a matter of very serious moment; but, as it is, I hope there can be nothing to fear for them, and everything to hope for
59her, from the association." "That is exactly what I think," cried Mrs. Norris, "and what I was saying to my husband this
60morning. It will be an education for the child, said I, only being with her cousins; if Miss Lee taught her nothing, she
61would learn to be good and clever from them." "I hope she will not tease my poor pug," said Lady Bertram; "I have but
62just got Julia to leave it alone." "There will be some difficulty in our way, Mrs. Norris," observed Sir Thomas, "as to
63the distinction proper to be made between the girls as they grow up: how to preserve in the minds of my daughters the
64consciousness of what they are, without making them think too lowly of their cousin; and how, without depressing her
65spirits too far, to make her remember that she is not a Miss Bertram. I should wish to see them very good friends, and
66would, on no account, authorise in my girls the smallest degree of arrogance towards their relation; but still they
67cannot be equals. Their rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will always be different. It is a point of great
68delicacy, and you must assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of conduct." Mrs. Norris was quite
69at his service; and though she perfectly agreed with him as to its being a most difficult thing, encouraged him to hope
70that between them it would be easily managed. It will be readily believed that Mrs. Norris did not write to her sister
71in vain. Mrs. Price seemed rather surprised that a girl should be fixed on, when she had so many fine boys, but accepted
72the offer most thankfully, assuring them of her daughter's being a very well-disposed, good-humoured girl, and trusting
73they would never have cause to throw her off. She spoke of her farther as somewhat delicate and puny, but was sanguine
74in the hope of her being materially better for change of air. Poor woman! she probably thought change of air might agree
75with many of her children.
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