CHAPTER III

hhardlyenoughtosupportmeintherankofagentlewoman,andenablemetolivesoasnottodisgracethememoryofthedeardeparted—whatpossiblecomfortcouldIhaveintakingsuchachargeuponmeasFanny?IfIcouldwishitformyownsake,Iwouldnotdosounjustathingbythepoorgirl.Sheisingoodhands,andsureofdoingwell.ImuststrugglethroughmysorrowsanddifficultiesasIcan.” “Thenyouwillnotmindlivingbyyourselfquitealone?” “LadyBertram,Idonotcomplain.IknowIcannotliveasIhavedone,butImustretrenchwhereIcan,andlearntobeabettermanager.Ihavebeenaliberalhousekeeperenough,butIshallnotbeashamedtopractiseeconomynow.Mysituationisasmuchalteredasmyincome.AgreatmanythingswereduefrompoorMr.Norris,asclergymanoftheparish,thatcannotbeexpectedfromme.Itisunknownhowmuchwasconsumedinourkitchenbyoddcomersandgoers.AttheWhiteHouse,mattersmustbebetterlookedafter.Imustlivewithinmyincome,orIshallbemiserableandIownitwouldgivemegreatsatisfactiontobeabletodorathermore,tolaybyalittleattheendoftheyear.” “Idaresayyouwill.Youalwaysdo,don’tyou?” “Myobject,LadyBertram,istobeofusetothosethatcomeafterme.Itisforyourchildren’sgoodthatIwishtobericher.Ihavenobodyelsetocarefor,butIshouldbeverygladtothinkIcouldleavealittletrifleamongthemworththeirhaving.” “Youareverygood,butdonottroubleyourselfaboutthem.Theyaresureofbeingwellprovidedfor.SirThomaswilltakecareofthat.” “Why,youknow,SirThomas’smeanswillberatherstraitenediftheAntiguaestateistomakesuchpoorreturns.” “Oh!thatwillsoonbesettled.SirThomashasbeenwritingaboutit,Iknow.” “Well,LadyBertram,”saidMrs.Norris,movingtogo,“Icanonlysaythatmysoledesireistobeofusetoyourfamily:andso,ifSirThomasshouldeverspeakagainaboutmytakingFanny,youwillbeabletosaythatmyhealthandspiritsputitquiteoutofthequestionbesidesthat,Ireallyshouldnothaveabedtogiveher,forImustkeepaspareroomforafriend.” LadyBertramrepeatedenoughofthisconversationtoherhusbandtoconvincehimhowmuchhehadmistakenhissister-in-law’sviewsandshewasfromthatmomentperfectlysafefromallexpectation,ortheslightestallusiontoitfromhim.Hecouldnotbutwonderatherrefusingtodoanythingforaniecewhomshehadbeensoforwardtoadoptbut,asshetookearlycaretomakehim,aswellasLadyBertram,understandthatwhatevershepossessedwasdesignedfortheirfamily,hesoongrewreconciledtoadistinctionwhich,atthesametimethatitwasadvantageousandcomplimentarytothem,wouldenablehimbettertoprovideforFannyhimself. Fannysoonlearnthowunnecessaryhadbeenherfearsofaremovalandherspontaneous,untaughtfelicityonthediscovery,conveyedsomeconsolationtoEdmundforhisdisappointmentinwhathehadexpectedtobesoessentiallyserviceabletoher.Mrs.NorristookpossessionoftheWhiteHouse,theGrantsarrivedattheParsonage,andtheseeventsover,everythingatMansfieldwentonforsometimeasusual. TheGrantsshowingadispositiontobefriendlyandsociable,gavegreatsatisfactioninthemainamongtheirnewacquaintance.Theyhadtheirfaults,andMrs.Norrissoonfoundthemout.TheDoctorwasveryfondofeating,andwouldhaveagooddinnereverydayandMrs.Grant,insteadofcontrivingtogratifyhimatlittleexpense,gavehercookashighwagesastheydidatMansfieldPark,andwasscarcelyeverseeninheroffices.Mrs.Norriscouldnotspeakwithanytemperofsuchgrievances,norofthequantityofbutterandeggsthatwereregularlyconsumedinthehouse.“Nobodylovedplentyandhospitalitymorethanherselfnobodymorehatedpitifuldoing