CHAPTER II

edrawing-room.“Dearmama,onlythink,mycousincannotputthemapofEuropetogether—ormycousincannottelltheprincipalriversinRussia—or,sheneverheardofAsiaMinor—orshedoesnotknowthedifferencebetweenwater-coloursandcrayons!—Howstrange!—Didyoueverhearanythingsostupid?” “Mydear,”theirconsiderateauntwouldreply,“itisverybad,butyoumustnotexpecteverybodytobeasforwardandquickatlearningasyourself.” “But,aunt,sheisreallysoveryignorant!—Doyouknow,weaskedherlastnightwhichwayshewouldgotogettoIrelandandshesaid,sheshouldcrosstotheIsleofWight.ShethinksofnothingbuttheIsleofWight,andshecallsittheIsland,asiftherewerenootherislandintheworld.IamsureIshouldhavebeenashamedofmyself,ifIhadnotknownbetterlongbeforeIwassooldassheis.IcannotrememberthetimewhenIdidnotknowagreatdealthatshehasnottheleastnotionofyet.Howlongagoitis,aunt,sinceweusedtorepeatthechronologicalorderofthekingsofEngland,withthedatesoftheiraccession,andmostoftheprincipaleventsoftheirreigns!” “Yes,”addedtheother“andoftheRomanemperorsaslowasSeverusbesidesagreatdealoftheheathenmythology,andallthemetals,semi-metals,planets,anddistinguishedphilosophers.” “Verytrueindeed,mydears,butyouareblessedwithwonderfulmemories,andyourpoorcousinhasprobablynoneatall.Thereisavastdealofdifferenceinmemories,aswellasineverythingelse,andthereforeyoumustmakeallowanceforyourcousin,andpityherdeficiency.Andrememberthat,ifyouareeversoforwardandcleveryourselves,youshouldalwaysbemodestfor,muchasyouknowalready,thereisagreatdealmoreforyoutolearn.” “Yes,Iknowthereis,tillIamseventeen.ButImusttellyouanotherthingofFanny,sooddandsostupid.Doyouknow,shesaysshedoesnotwanttolearneithermusicordrawing.” “Tobesure,mydear,thatisverystupidindeed,andshowsagreatwantofgeniusandemulation.But,allthingsconsidered,Idonotknowwhetheritisnotaswellthatitshouldbeso,for,thoughyouknow(owingtome)yourpapaandmamaaresogoodastobringherupwithyou,itisnotatallnecessarythatsheshouldbeasaccomplishedasyouare—onthecontrary,itismuchmoredesirablethatthereshouldbeadifference.” SuchwerethecounselsbywhichMrs.Norrisassistedtoformhernieces’mindsanditisnotverywonderfulthat,withalltheirpromisingtalentsandearlyinformation,theyshouldbeentirelydeficientinthelesscommonacquirementsofself-knowledge,generosityandhumility.Ineverythingbutdispositiontheywereadmirablytaught.SirThomasdidnotknowwhatwaswanting,because,thoughatrulyanxiousfather,hewasnotoutwardlyaffectionate,andthereserveofhismannerrepressedalltheflowoftheirspiritsbeforehim. TotheeducationofherdaughtersLadyBertrampaidnotthesmallestattention.Shehadnottimeforsuchcares.Shewasawomanwhospentherdaysinsitting,nicelydressed,onasofa,doingsomelongpieceofneedlework,oflittleuseandnobeauty,thinkingmoreofherpugthanherchildren,butveryindulgenttothelatterwhenitdidnotputherselftoinconvenience,guidedineverythingimportantbySirThomas,andinsmallerconcernsbyhersister.Hadshepossessedgreaterleisurefortheserviceofhergirls,shewouldprobablyhavesupposeditunnecessary,fortheywereunderthecareofagoverness,withpropermasters,andcouldwantnothingmore.AsforFanny’sbeingstupidatlearning,“shecouldonlysayitwasveryunlucky,butsomepeoplewerestupid,andFannymusttakemorepains:shedidnotknowwhatelsewastobedoneand,exceptherbeingsodull,shemustaddshesawnoharminthepoorlittlething,andalwaysfoundherveryhandyandquickincarryingmessages,andfetchingwhatshewanted.” Fanny,withallherfaultsofignoranceandtimidity,wasfixedatMansfieldPark,andlearningtotransferinitsfavourmuchofhera