CHAPTER XL

tworkedherselfupto.Ithadveryearlyoccurredtoherthatasmallsumofmoneymight,perhaps,restorepeaceforeveronthesoresubjectofthesilverknife,canvassedasitnowwascontinually,andthericheswhichshewasinpossessionofherself,herunclehavinggivenher￡10atparting,madeherasableasshewaswillingtobegenerous.Butshewassowhollyunusedtoconferfavours,exceptontheverypoor,sounpractisedinremovingevils,orbestowingkindnessesamongherequals,andsofearfulofappearingtoelevateherselfasagreatladyathome,thatittooksometimetodeterminethatitwouldnotbeunbecominginhertomakesuchapresent.Itwasmade,however,atlast:asilverknifewasboughtforBetsey,andacceptedwithgreatdelight,itsnewnessgivingiteveryadvantageovertheotherthatcouldbedesiredSusanwasestablishedinthefullpossessionofherown,Betseyhandsomelydeclaringthatnowshehadgotonesomuchprettierherself,sheshouldneverwantthatagainandnoreproachseemedconveyedtotheequallysatisfiedmother,whichFannyhadalmostfearedtobeimpossible.Thedeedthoroughlyanswered:asourceofdomesticaltercationwasentirelydoneaway,anditwasthemeansofopeningSusan’shearttoher,andgivinghersomethingmoretoloveandbeinterestedin.Susanshewedthatshehaddelicacy:pleasedasshewastobemistressofpropertywhichshehadbeenstrugglingforatleasttwoyears,sheyetfearedthathersister’sjudgmenthadbeenagainsther,andthatareproofwasdesignedherforhavingsostruggledastomakethepurchasenecessaryforthetranquillityofthehouse. Hertemperwasopen.Sheacknowledgedherfears,blamedherselfforhavingcontendedsowarmlyandfromthathourFanny,understandingtheworthofherdispositionandperceivinghowfullyshewasinclinedtoseekhergoodopinionandrefertoherjudgment,begantofeelagaintheblessingofaffection,andtoentertainthehopeofbeingusefultoamindsomuchinneedofhelp,andsomuchdeservingit.Shegaveadvice,advicetoosoundtoberesistedbyagoodunderstanding,andgivensomildlyandconsideratelyasnottoirritateanimperfecttemper,andshehadthehappinessofobservingitsgoodeffectsnotunfrequently.Morewasnotexpectedbyonewho,whileseeingalltheobligationandexpediencyofsubmissionandforbearance,sawalsowithsympatheticacutenessoffeelingallthatmustbeh