CHAPTER I

pectable,thoughlesseconomicalrendezvousbeingaccordinglysubstituted,everythingwasconsideredassettled,andthepleasuresofsobenevolentaschemewerealreadyenjoyed.Thedivisionofgratifyingsensationsoughtnot,instrictjustice,tohavebeenequalforSirThomaswasfullyresolvedtobetherealandconsistentpatronoftheselectedchild,andMrs.Norrishadnottheleastintentionofbeingatanyexpensewhateverinhermaintenance.Asfaraswalking,talking,andcontrivingreached,shewasthoroughlybenevolent,andnobodyknewbetterhowtodictateliberalitytoothersbutherloveofmoneywasequaltoherloveofdirecting,andsheknewquiteaswellhowtosaveherownastospendthatofherfriends.Havingmarriedonanarrowerincomethanshehadbeenusedtolookforwardto,shehad,fromthefirst,fanciedaverystrictlineofeconomynecessaryandwhatwasbegunasamatterofprudence,soongrewintoamatterofchoice,asanobjectofthatneedfulsolicitudewhichtherewerenochildrentosupply.Hadtherebeenafamilytoprovidefor,Mrs.Norrismightneverhavesavedhermoneybuthavingnocareofthatkind,therewasnothingtoimpedeherfrugality,orlessenthecomfortofmakingayearlyadditiontoanincomewhichtheyhadneverlivedupto.Underthisinfatuatingprinciple,counteractedbynorealaffectionforhersister,itwasimpossibleforhertoaimatmorethanthecreditofprojectingandarrangingsoexpensiveacharitythoughperhapsshemightsolittleknowherselfastowalkhometotheParsonage,afterthisconversation,inthehappybeliefofbeingthemostliberal-mindedsisterandauntintheworld. Whenthesubjectwasbroughtforwardagain,herviewsweremorefullyexplainedand,inreplytoLadyBertram’scalminquiryof“Whereshallthechildcometofirst,sister,toyouortous?”SirThomasheardwithsomesurprisethatitwouldbetotallyoutofMrs.Norris’spowertotakeanyshareinthepersonalchargeofher.HehadbeenconsideringherasaparticularlywelcomeadditionattheParsonage,asadesirablecompaniontoanauntwhohadnochildrenofherownbuthefoundhimselfwhollymistaken.Mrs.Norriswassorrytosaythatthelittlegirl’sstayingwiththem,atleastasthingsthenwere,wasquiteoutofthequestion.PoorMr.Norris’sindifferentstateofhealthmadeitanimpossibility:hecouldnomorebearthenoiseofachildthanhecouldflyif,indeed,heshouldevergetwellofhisgoutycomplaints,itwouldbeadifferentmatter:sheshouldthenbegladtotakeherturn,andthinknothingoftheinconveniencebutjustnow,poorMr.Norristookupeverymomentofhertime,andtheverymentionofsuchathingshewassurewoulddistracthim. “Thenshehadbettercometous,”saidLadyBertram,withtheutmostcomposure.AfterashortpauseSirThomasaddedwithdignity,“Yes,letherhomebeinthishouse.Wewillendeavourtodoourdutybyher,andshewill,atleast,havetheadvantageofcompanionsofherownage,andofaregularinstructress.” “Verytrue,”criedMrs.Norris,“whicharebothveryimportantconsiderationsanditwillbejustthesametoMissLeewhethershehasthreegirlstoteach,oronlytwo—therecanbenodifference.IonlywishIcouldbemoreusefulbutyouseeIdoallinmypower.IamnotoneofthosethatsparetheirowntroubleandN