CHAPTER III

umustcomeupandtackonmypatternsallthesame.” ThenewswasasdisagreeabletoFannyasithadbeenunexpected.ShehadneverreceivedkindnessfromherauntNorris,andcouldnotloveher. “Ishallbeverysorrytogoaway,”saidshe,withafalteringvoice. “Yes,Idaresayyouwillthat’snaturalenough.Isupposeyouhavehadaslittletovexyousinceyoucameintothishouseasanycreatureintheworld.” “IhopeIamnotungrateful,aunt,”saidFannymodestly. “No,mydearIhopenot.Ihavealwaysfoundyouaverygoodgirl.” “AndamInevertolivehereagain?” “Never,mydearbutyouaresureofacomfortablehome.Itcanmakeverylittledifferencetoyou,whetheryouareinonehouseortheother.” Fannylefttheroomwithaverysorrowfulheartshecouldnotfeelthedifferencetobesosmall,shecouldnotthinkoflivingwithherauntwithanythinglikesatisfaction.AssoonasshemetwithEdmundshetoldhimherdistress. “Cousin,”saidshe,“somethingisgoingtohappenwhichIdonotlikeatallandthoughyouhaveoftenpersuadedmeintobeingreconciledtothingsthatIdislikedatfirst,youwillnotbeabletodoitnow.IamgoingtoliveentirelywithmyauntNorris.” “Indeed!” “YesmyauntBertramhasjusttoldmeso.Itisquitesettled.IamtoleaveMansfieldPark,andgototheWhiteHouse,Isuppose,assoonassheisremovedthere.” “Well,Fanny,andiftheplanwerenotunpleasanttoyou,Ishouldcallitanexcellentone.” “Oh,cousin!” “Ithaseverythingelseinitsfavour.Myauntisactinglikeasensiblewomaninwishingforyou.Sheischoosingafriendandcompanionexactlywheresheought,andIamgladherloveofmoneydoesnotinterfere.Youwillbewhatyououghttobetoher.Ihopeitdoesnotdistressyouverymuch,Fanny?” “Indeeditdoes:Icannotlikeit.Ilovethishouseandeverythinginit:Ishalllovenothingthere.YouknowhowuncomfortableIfeelwithher.” “Icansaynothingforhermannertoyouasachildbutitwasthesamewithusall,ornearlyso.Sheneverknewhowtobepleasanttochildren.ButyouarenowofanagetobetreatedbetterIthinksheisbehavingbetteralreadyandwhenyouareheronlycompanion,youmustbeimportanttoher.” “Icanneverbeimportanttoanyone.” “Whatistopreventyou?” “Everything.Mysituation,myfoolishnessandawkwardness.” “Astoyourfoolishnessandawkwardness,mydearFanny,believeme,youneverhaveashadowofeither,butinusingthewordssoimproperly.Thereisnoreasonintheworldwhyyoushouldnotbeimportantwhereyouareknown.Youhavegoodsense,andasweettemper,andIamsureyouhaveagratefulheart,thatcouldneverreceivekindnesswithoutwishingtoreturnit.Idonotknowanybetterqualificationsforafriendandcompanion.” “Youaretookind,”saidFanny,colouringatsuchpraise“howshallIeverthankyouasIought,forthinkingsowellofme.Oh!cousin,ifIamtogoaway,Ishallrememberyourgoodnesstothelastmomentofmylife.” “Why,indeed,Fanny,IshouldhopetoberememberedatsuchadistanceastheWhiteHouse.Youspeakasifyouweregoingtwohundredmilesoffinsteadofonlyacrosstheparkbutyouwillbelongtousalmostasmuchasever.Thetwofamilieswillbemeetingeverydayintheyear.Theonlydifferencewillbethat,livingwithyouraunt,youwillnecessarilybebroughtforwardasyououghttobe.Heretherearetoomanywhomyoucanhidebehindbutwithheryouwillbeforcedtospeakforyourself.” “Oh!donotsayso.” “Imustsayit,andsayitwithpleasure.Mrs.Norrisismuchbetterfittedthanmymotherforhavingthechargeofyounow.Sheisofatempertodoagreatdealforanybodyshereallyinterestsherselfabout,andshewillforceyoutodojusticetoyournaturalpowers.” Fannysighed,andsaid,“Icanno