CHAPTER XL

ourlygratingtoagirllikeSusan.Hergreatestwonderonthesubjectsoonbecame—notthatSusanshouldhavebeenprovokedintodisrespectandimpatienceagainstherbetterknowledge—butthatsomuchbetterknowledge,somanygoodnotionsshouldhavebeenhersatallandthat,broughtupinthemidstofnegligenceanderror,sheshouldhaveformedsuchproperopinionsofwhatoughttobeshe,whohadhadnocousinEdmundtodirectherthoughtsorfixherprinciples. Theintimacythusbegunbetweenthemwasamaterialadvantagetoeach.Bysittingtogetherupstairs,theyavoidedagreatdealofthedisturbanceofthehouseFannyhadpeace,andSusanlearnedtothinkitnomisfortunetobequietlyemployed.TheysatwithoutafirebutthatwasaprivationfamiliareventoFanny,andshesufferedthelessbecauseremindedbyitoftheEastroom.Itwastheonlypointofresemblance.Inspace,light,furniture,andprospect,therewasnothingalikeinthetwoapartmentsandsheoftenheavedasighattheremembranceofallherbooksandboxes,andvariouscomfortsthere.Bydegreesthegirlscametospendthechiefofthemorningupstairs,atfirstonlyinworkingandtalking,butafterafewdays,theremembranceofthesaidbooksgrewsopotentandstimulativethatFannyfounditimpossiblenottotryforbooksagain.Therewerenoneinherfather’shousebutwealthisluxuriousanddaring,andsomeofhersfounditswaytoacirculatinglibrary.Shebecameasubscriberamazedatbeinganythinginpropriapersona,amazedatherowndoingsineveryway,tobearenter,achuserofbooks!Andtobehavinganyone’simprovementinviewinherchoice!Butsoitwas.Susanhadreadnothing,andFannylongedtogiveherashareinherownfirstpleasures,andinspireatasteforthebiographyandpoetrywhichshedelightedinherself. Inthisoccupationshehoped,moreover,toburysomeoftherecollectionsofMansfield,whichweretooapttoseizehermindifherfingersonlywerebusyand,especiallyatthistime,hopeditmightbeusefulindivertingherthoughtsfrompursuingEdmundtoLondon,whither,ontheauthorityofheraunt’slastletter,sheknewhewasgone.Shehadnodoubtofwhatwouldensue.Thepromisednotificationwashangingoverherhead.Thepostman’sknockwithintheneighbourhoodwasbeginningtobringitsdailyterrors,andifreadingcouldbanishtheideaforevenhalfanhour,itwassomethinggained.