CHAPTER XXXVII

hergoodnessandself-commandassuch.ButMrs.NorriswantedtopersuadeherthatFannycouldbeverywellspared—shebeingreadytogiveupallherowntimetoherasrequested—and,inshort,couldnotreallybewantedormissed. “Thatmaybe,sister,”wasallLadyBertram’sreply.“IdaresayyouareveryrightbutIamsureIshallmissherverymuch.” ThenextstepwastocommunicatewithPortsmouth.Fannywrotetoofferherselfandhermother’sanswer,thoughshort,wassokind—afewsimplelinesexpressedsonaturalandmotherlyajoyintheprospectofseeingherchildagain,astoconfirmallthedaughter’sviewsofhappinessinbeingwithher—convincingherthatsheshouldnowfindawarmandaffectionatefriendinthe“mama”whohadcertainlyshewnnoremarkablefondnessforherformerlybutthisshecouldeasilysupposetohavebeenherownfaultorherownfancy.Shehadprobablyalienatedlovebythehelplessnessandfretfulnessofafearfultemper,orbeenunreasonableinwantingalargersharethananyoneamongsomanycoulddeserve.Now,whensheknewbetterhowtobeuseful,andhowtoforbear,andwhenhermothercouldbenolongeroccupiedbytheincessantdemandsofahousefulloflittlechildren,therewouldbeleisureandinclinationforeverycomfort,andtheyshouldsoonbewhatmotheranddaughteroughttobetoeachother. Williamwasalmostashappyintheplanashissister.Itwouldbethegreatestpleasuretohimtohavehertheretothelastmomentbeforehesailed,andperhapsfindhertherestillwhenhecameinfromhisfirstcruise.Andbesides,hewantedhersoverymuchtoseetheThrushbeforeshewentoutofharbour—theThrushwascertainlythefinestsloopintheservice—andtherewereseveralimprovementsinthedockyard,too,whichhequitelongedtoshewher. Hedidnotscrupletoaddthatherbeingathomeforawhilewouldbeagreatadvantagetoeverybody. “Idonotknowhowitis,”saidhe“butweseemtowantsomeofyournicewaysandorderlinessatmyfather’s.Thehouseisalwaysinconfusion.Youwillsetthingsgoinginabetterway,Iamsure.Youwilltellmymotherhowitalloughttobe,andyouwillbesousefultoSusan,andyouwillteachBetsey,andmaketheboysloveandmindyou.Howrightandcomfortableitwillallbe!” BythetimeMrs.Price’sanswerarrived,thereremainedbutaveryfewdaysmoretobespentatMansfieldandforpartofoneofthosedaystheyoungtravellerswereinagooddealofalarmonthesubjectoftheirjourney,forwhenthemodeofitcametobetalkedof,andMrs.Norrisfoundthatallheranxietytosaveherbrother-in-law’smoneywasvain,andthatinspiteofherwishesandhintsforalessexpensiveconveyanceofFanny,theyweretotravelpostwhenshesawSirThomasactuallygiveWilliamnotesforthepurpose,shewasstruckwiththeideaoftherebeingroomforathirdinthecarriage,andsuddenlyseizedwithastronginclinationtogowiththem,togoandseeherpoordearsisterPrice.Sheproclaimedherthoughts.ShemustsaythatshehadmorethanhalfamindtogowiththeyoungpeopleitwouldbesuchanindulgencetohershehadnotseenherpoordearsisterPriceformorethantwentyyearsanditwouldbeahelptotheyoungpeopleintheirjourneytohaveherolderheadtomanageforthemandshecouldnothelpthinkingherpoordearsisterPricewouldfeelitveryunkindofhernottocomebysuchanopportunity. WilliamandFannywerehorror-struckattheid