CHAPTER I

ver,Mrs.Pricecouldnolongeraffordtocherishprideorresentment,ortoloseoneconnexionthatmightpossiblyassisther.Alargeandstillincreasingfamily,anhusbanddisabledforactiveservice,butnotthelessequaltocompanyandgoodliquor,andaverysmallincometosupplytheirwants,madehereagertoregainthefriendsshehadsocarelesslysacrificedandsheaddressedLadyBertraminaletterwhichspokesomuchcontritionanddespondence,suchasuperfluityofchildren,andsuchawantofalmosteverythingelse,ascouldnotbutdisposethemalltoareconciliation.Shewaspreparingforherninthlying-inandafterbewailingthecircumstance,andimploringtheircountenanceassponsorstotheexpectedchild,shecouldnotconcealhowimportantshefelttheymightbetothefuturemaintenanceoftheeightalreadyinbeing.Hereldestwasaboyoftenyearsold,afinespiritedfellow,wholongedtobeoutintheworldbutwhatcouldshedo?WasthereanychanceofhisbeinghereafterusefultoSirThomasintheconcernsofhisWestIndianproperty?NosituationwouldbebeneathhimorwhatdidSirThomasthinkofWoolwich?orhowcouldaboybesentouttotheEast? Theletterwasnotunproductive.Itre-establishedpeaceandkindness.SirThomassentfriendlyadviceandprofessions,LadyBertramdispatchedmoneyandbaby-linen,andMrs.Norriswrotetheletters. Suchwereitsimmediateeffects,andwithinatwelvemonthamoreimportantadvantagetoMrs.Priceresultedfromit.Mrs.Norriswasoftenobservingtotheothersthatshecouldnotgetherpoorsisterandherfamilyoutofherhead,andthat,muchastheyhadalldoneforher,sheseemedtobewantingtodomoreandatlengthshecouldnotbutownittobeherwishthatpoorMrs.Priceshouldberelievedfromthechargeandexpenseofonechildentirelyoutofhergreatnumber.“Whatiftheywereamongthemtoundertakethecareofhereldestdaughter,agirlnownineyearsold,ofanagetorequiremoreattentionthanherpoormothercouldpossiblygive?Thetroubleandexpenseofittothemwouldbenothing,comparedwiththebenevolenceoftheaction.”LadyBertramagreedwithherinstantly.“Ithinkwecannotdobetter,”saidshe“letussendforthechild.” SirThomascouldnotgivesoinstantaneousandunqualifiedaconsent.Hedebatedandhesitated—itwasaseriouscharge—agirlsobroughtupmustbeadequatelyprovidedfor,ortherewouldbecrueltyinsteadofkindnessintakingherfromherfamily.Hethoughtofhisownfourchildren,ofhistwosons,ofcousinsinlove,etc.—butnosoonerhadhedeliberatelybeguntostatehisobjections,thanMrs.Norrisinterruptedhimwithareplytothemall,whetherstatedornot. “MydearSirThomas,Iperfectlycomprehendyou,anddojusticetothegenerosityanddelicacyofyournotions,whichindeedarequiteofapiecewithyourgeneralconductandIentirelyagreewithyouinthemainastotheproprietyofdoingeverythingonecouldbywayofprovidingforachildonehadinamannertakenintoone’sownhandsandIamsureIshouldbethelastpersonintheworldtowithholdmymiteuponsuchanoccasion.Havingnochildrenofmyown,whoshouldIlooktoinanylittlematterImayeverhavetobestow,butthechildrenofmysisters?—andIamsureMr.Norrisistoojust—butyouknowIamawomanoffewwordsandp