CHAPTER XXXIX

morenegligentofhisfamily,hishabitswereworse,andhismannerscoarser,thanshehadbeenpreparedfor.Hedidnotwantabilitiesbuthehadnocuriosity,andnoinformationbeyondhisprofessionhereadonlythenewspaperandthenavy-listhetalkedonlyofthedockyard,theharbour,Spithead,andtheMotherbankhesworeandhedrank,hewasdirtyandgross.Shehadneverbeenabletorecallanythingapproachingtotendernessinhisformertreatmentofherself.Therehadremainedonlyageneralimpressionofroughnessandloudnessandnowhescarcelyevernoticedher,buttomakehertheobjectofacoarsejoke. Herdisappointmentinhermotherwasgreater:thereshehadhopedmuch,andfoundalmostnothing.Everyflatteringschemeofbeingofconsequencetohersoonfelltotheground.Mrs.Pricewasnotunkindbut,insteadofgainingonheraffectionandconfidence,andbecomingmoreandmoredear,herdaughternevermetwithgreaterkindnessfromherthanonthefirstdayofherarrival.Theinstinctofnaturewassoonsatisfied,andMrs.Price’sattachmenthadnoothersource.HerheartandhertimewerealreadyquitefullshehadneitherleisurenoraffectiontobestowonFanny.Herdaughtersneverhadbeenmuchtoher.Shewasfondofhersons,especiallyofWilliam,butBetseywasthefirstofhergirlswhomshehadevermuchregarded.Tohershewasmostinjudiciouslyindulgent.WilliamwasherprideBetseyherdarlingandJohn,Richard,Sam,Tom,andCharlesoccupiedalltherestofhermaternalsolicitude,alternatelyherworriesandhercomforts.Thesesharedherheart:hertimewasgivenchieflytoherhouseandherservants.Herdayswerespentinakindofslowbustleallwasbusywithoutgettingon,alwaysbehindhandandlamentingit,withoutalteringherwayswishingtobeaneconomis