CHAPTER I

rofessions.Donotletusbefrightenedfromagooddeedbyatrifle.Giveagirlaneducation,andintroduceherproperlyintotheworld,andtentoonebutshehasthemeansofsettlingwell,withoutfartherexpensetoanybody.Anieceofours,SirThomas,Imaysay,oratleastofyours,wouldnotgrowupinthisneighbourhoodwithoutmanyadvantages.Idon’tsayshewouldbesohandsomeashercousins.Idaresayshewouldnotbutshewouldbeintroducedintothesocietyofthiscountryundersuchveryfavourablecircumstancesas,inallhumanprobability,wouldgetheracreditableestablishment.Youarethinkingofyoursons—butdonotyouknowthat,ofallthingsuponearth,thatistheleastlikelytohappen,broughtupastheywouldbe,alwaystogetherlikebrothersandsisters?Itismorallyimpossible.Ineverknewaninstanceofit.Itis,infact,theonlysurewayofprovidingagainsttheconnexion.Supposeheraprettygirl,andseenbyTomorEdmundforthefirsttimesevenyearshence,andIdaresaytherewouldbemischief.Theveryideaofherhavingbeensufferedtogrowupatadistancefromusallinpovertyandneglect,wouldbeenoughtomakeeitherofthedear,sweet-temperedboysinlovewithher.Butbreedherupwiththemfromthistime,andsupposehereventohavethebeautyofanangel,andshewillneverbemoretoeitherthanasister.” “Thereisagreatdealoftruthinwhatyousay,”repliedSirThomas,“andfarbeitfrommetothrowanyfancifulimpedimentinthewayofaplanwhichwouldbesoconsistentwiththerelativesituationsofeach.Ionlymeanttoobservethatitoughtnottobelightlyengagedin,andthattomakeitreallyserviceabletoMrs.Price,andcreditabletoourselves,wemustsecuretothechild,orconsiderourselvesengagedtosecuretoherhereafter,ascircumstancesmayarise,theprovisionofagentlewoman,ifnosuchestablishmentshouldofferasyouaresosanguineinexpecting.” “Ithoroughlyunderstandyou,”criedMrs.Norris,“youareeverythingthatisgenerousandconsiderate,andIamsureweshallneverdisagreeonthispoint.WhateverIcando,asyouwellknow,IamalwaysreadyenoughtodoforthegoodofthoseIloveand,thoughIcouldneverfeelforthislittlegirlthehundredthpartoftheregardIbearyourowndearchildren,norconsiderher,inanyrespect,somuchmyown,IshouldhatemyselfifIwerecapableofneglectingher.Isnotsheasister’schild?andcouldIbeartoseeherwantwhileIhadabitofbreadtogiveher?MydearSirThomas,withallmyfaultsIhaveawarmheartand,poorasIam,wouldratherdenymyselfthenecessariesoflifethandoanungenerousthing.So,ifyouarenotagainstit,Iwillwritetomypoorsistertomorrow,andmaketheproposaland,assoonasmattersaresettled,IwillengagetogetthechildtoMansfieldyoushallhavenotroubleaboutit.Myowntrouble,youknow,Ineverregard.IwillsendNannytoLondononpurpose,andshemayhaveabedathercousinthesaddler’s,andthechildbeappointedtomeetherthere.TheymayeasilygetherfromPortsmouthtotownbythecoach,underthecareofanycreditablepersonthatmaychancetobegoing.Idaresaythereisalwayssomereputabletradesman’swifeorothergoingup.” ExcepttotheattackonNanny’scousin,SirThomasnolongermadeanyobjection,andamoreres