CHAPTER XXXIX

onceivehowtheywouldhavemanagedwithouther. Sam,loudandoverbearingashewas,sheratherregrettedwhenhewent,forhewascleverandintelligent,andgladtobeemployedinanyerrandinthetownandthoughspurningtheremonstrancesofSusan,givenastheywere,thoughveryreasonableinthemselves,withill-timedandpowerlesswarmth,wasbeginningtobeinfluencedbyFanny’sservicesandgentlepersuasionsandshefoundthatthebestofthethreeyoungeroneswasgoneinhim:TomandCharlesbeingatleastasmanyyearsastheywerehisjuniorsdistantfromthatageoffeelingandreason,whichmightsuggesttheexpediencyofmakingfriends,andofendeavouringtobelessdisagreeable.Theirsistersoondespairedofmakingthesmallestimpressiononthemtheywerequiteuntameablebyanymeansofaddresswhichshehadspiritsortimetoattempt.EveryafternoonbroughtareturnoftheirriotousgamesalloverthehouseandsheveryearlylearnedtosighattheapproachofSaturday’sconstanthalf-holiday. Betsey,too,aspoiledchild,traineduptothinkthealphabethergreatestenemy,lefttobewiththeservantsatherpleasure,andthenencouragedtoreportanyevilofthem,shewasalmostasreadytodespairofbeingabletoloveorassistandofSusan’stempershehadmanydoubts.Hercontinualdisagreementswithhermother,herrashsquabbleswithTomandCharles,andpetulancewithBetsey,wereatleastsodistressingtoFannythat,thoughadmittingtheywerebynomeanswithoutprovocation,shefearedthedispositionthatcouldpushthemtosuchlengthmustbefarfromamiable,andfromaffordinganyreposetoherself. SuchwasthehomewhichwastoputMansfieldoutofherhead,andteachhertothinkofhercousinEdmundwithmoderatedfeelings.Onthecontrary,shecould