Except to the attack on Nanny's cousin,Sir Thomas no longer made any objection,and a more respectable,though less economical rendezvous being accordingly substituted,everything was considered as settled,and the pleasures of so benevolent a scheme were already enjoyed.The division of gratifying sensations ought not,in strict justice,to have been equal;for Sir Thomas was fully resolved to be the real and consistent patron of the selected child,and Mrs Norris had not the least intention of being at any expense whatever in her maintenance.As far as walking,talking,and contriving reached,she was thoroughly benevolent,and nobody knew better how to dictate liberality to others:but her love of money was equal to her love of directing,and she knew quite as well how to save her own as to spend that of her friends.Having married on a narrower income than she had been used to look forward to,she had,from the first,fancied a very strict line of economy necessary;and what was begun as a matter of prudence,soon grew into a matter of choice,as an object of that needful solicitude,which there were no children to supply.Had there been a family to provide for,Mrs Norris might never have saved her money;but having no care of that kind,there was nothing to impede her frugality,or lessen the comfort of making a yearly addition to an income which they had never lived up to.Under this infatuating principle,counteracted by no real affection for her sister,it was impossible for her to aim at more than the credit of projecting and arranging so expensive a charity;though perhaps she might so little know herself,as to walk home to the Parsonage after this conversation,in the happy belief of being the most liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world.
When the subject was brought forward again,her views were more fully explained;and,in reply to Lady Bertram's calm inquiry of ‘Where shall the child come to first,sister,to you or to us?’Sir Thomas heard,with some surprise,that it would be totally out of Mrs Norris's power to take any share in the personal charge of her.He had been considering her as a particularly welcome addition at the Parsonage,as a desirable companion to an aunt who had no children of her own;but he found himself wholly mistaken.Mrs Norris was sorry to say,that the little girl's staying with them,at least as things then were,was quite out of the question.Poor Mr Norris's indifferent state of health made it an impossibility:he could no more bear the noise of a child than he could fly;if indeed he should ever get well of his gouty complaints,it would be a different matter:she should then be glad to take her turn,and think nothing of the inconvenience;but just now,poor Mr Norris took up every moment of her time,and the very mention of such a thing she was sure would distract him.
‘Then she had better come to us,’said Lady Bertram with the utmost composure.After a short pause,Sir Thomas added with dignity,‘Yes,let her home be in this house.We will endeavour to do our duty by her,and she will at least have the advantage of companions of her own age,and of a regular instructress.’
‘Very true,’cried Mrs Norris,‘which are both very important considerations:and it will be just the same to Miss Lee,whether she has three girls to teach,or only two-there can be no difference.I only wish I could be more useful;but you see I do all in my power.I am not one of those that spare their own trouble;and Nanny shall fetch her,however it may put me to inconvenience to have my chief counsellor away for three days.I suppose,sister,you will put the child in the little white attic,near the old nurseries.It will be much the best place for her,so near Miss Lee,and not far from the girls,and close by the housemaids,who could either of them help dress her you know,and take care of her clothes,for I suppose you would not think it fair to expect Ellis to wait on her as well as the others.Indeed,I do not see that you could possibly place her anywhere else.’
Lady Bertram made no opposition.
‘I hope she will prove a well-disposed girl,’continued Mrs Norris,‘and be sensible of her uncommon good fortune in having such friends.’
‘Should her disposition be really bad,’said Sir Thomas,‘we must not,for our own children's sake,continue her in the family;but there is no reason to expect so great an evil.We shall probably see much to wish altered in her,and must prepare ourselves for gross ignorance,some meanness of opinions,and very distressing vulgarity of manner;but these are not incurable faults-nor,I trust,can they be dangerous for her associates.Had my daughters been younger than herself,I should have considered the introduction of such a companion,as a matter of very serious moment;but as it is,I hope there can be nothing to fear for them and everything to hope for her,from the association.’
‘That is exactly what I think,’cried Mrs Norris,‘and what I was saying to my husband this morning.It will be an education for the child said I,only being with her cousins;if Miss Lee taught her nothing,she would learn to be good and clever from them.’
‘I hope she will not tease my poor pug,’said Lady Bertram;‘I have but just got Julia to leave it alone.’
‘There will be some difficulty in our way,Mrs Norris,’observed Sir Thomas,‘as to the distinction proper to be made between the girls as they grow up;how to preserve in the minds of my daughters the consciousness of what they are,without making them think too lowly of their cousin;and how,without depressing her spirits too far,make her remember that she is not a Miss Bertram.I should wish to see them very good friends,and would,on no account,authorise in my girls the smallest degree of arrogance towards their relation;but still they cannot be equals.Their rank,fortune,rights,and expectations,will always be different.It is a point of great delicacy,and you must assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of conduct.’
