CHAPTER I

annyshallfetchher,howeveritmayputmetoinconveniencetohavemychiefcounsellorawayforthreedays.Isuppose,sister,youwillputthechildinthelittlewhiteattic,neartheoldnurseries.Itwillbemuchthebestplaceforher,sonearMissLee,andnotfarfromthegirls,andclosebythehousemaids,whocouldeitherofthemhelptodressher,youknow,andtakecareofherclothes,forIsupposeyouwouldnotthinkitfairtoexpectEllistowaitonheraswellastheothers.Indeed,Idonotseethatyoucouldpossiblyplaceheranywhereelse.” LadyBertrammadenoopposition. “Ihopeshewillproveawell-disposedgirl,”continuedMrs.Norris,“andbesensibleofheruncommongoodfortuneinhavingsuchfriends.” “Shouldherdispositionbereallybad,”saidSirThomas,“wemustnot,forourownchildren’ssake,continueherinthefamilybutthereisnoreasontoexpectsogreatanevil.Weshallprobablyseemuchtowishalteredinher,andmustprepareourselvesforgrossignorance,somemeannessofopinions,andverydistressingvulgarityofmannerbutthesearenotincurablefaultsnor,Itrust,cantheybedangerousforherassociates.Hadmydaughtersbeenyoungerthanherself,Ishouldhaveconsideredtheintroductionofsuchacompanionasamatterofveryseriousmomentbut,asitis,Ihopetherecanbenothingtofearforthem,andeverythingtohopeforher,fromtheassociation.” “ThatisexactlywhatIthink,”criedMrs.Norris,“andwhatIwassayingtomyhusbandthismorning.Itwillbeaneducationforthechild,saidI,onlybeingwithhercousinsifMissLeetaughthernothing,shewouldlearntobegoodandcleverfromthem.” “Ihopeshewillnotteasemypoorpug,”saidLadyBertram“IhavebutjustgotJuliatoleaveitalone.” “Therewillbesomedifficultyinourway,Mrs.Norris,”observedSirThomas,“astothedistinctionpropertobemadebetweenthegirlsastheygrowup:howtopreserveinthemindsofmydaughterstheconsciousnessofwhattheyare,withoutmakingthemthinktoolowlyoftheircousinandhow,withoutdepressingherspiritstoofar,tomakeherrememberthatsheisnotaMissBertram.Ishouldwishtoseethemverygoodfriends,andwould,onnoaccount,authoriseinmygirlsthesmallestdegreeofarrogancetowardstheirrelationbutstilltheycannotbeequals.Theirrank,fortune,rights,andexpectationswillalwaysbedifferent.Itisapointofgreatdelicacy,andyoumustassistusinourendeavourstochooseexactlytherightlineofconduct.” Mrs.Norriswasquiteathisserviceandthoughsheperfectlyagreedwithhimastoitsbeingamostdifficultthing,encouragedhimtohopethatbetweenthemitwouldbeeasilymanaged. ItwillbereadilybelievedthatMrs.Norrisdidnotwritetohersisterinvain.Mrs.Priceseemedrathersurprisedthatagirlshouldbefixedon,whenshehadsomanyfineboys,butacceptedtheoffermostthankfully,assuringthemofherdaughter’sbeingaverywell-disposed,good-humouredgirl,andtrustingtheywouldneverhavecausetothrowheroff.Shespokeofherfartherassomewhatdelicateandpuny,butwassanguineinthehopeofherbeingmateriallybetterforchangeofair.Poorwoman!sheprobablythoughtchangeofairmightagreewithmanyofherchildren.