Mansfield Park | Page 5

of the dear, sweet-tempered
boys in love with her. But breed her up with them from this time, and
suppose her even to have the beauty of an angel, and she will never be
more to either than a sister."
"There is a great deal of truth in what you say," replied Sir Thomas,
"and far be it from me to throw any fanciful impediment in the way of a
plan which would be so consistent with the relative situations of each. I
only meant to observe that it ought not to be lightly engaged in, and
that to make it really serviceable to Mrs. Price, and creditable to
ourselves, we must secure to the child, or consider ourselves engaged to
secure to her hereafter, as circumstances may arise, the provision of a
gentlewoman, if no such establishment should offer as you are so
sanguine in expecting."
"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, "you are everything
that is generous and considerate, and I am sure we shall never disagree
on this point. Whatever I can do, as you well know, I am always ready
enough to do for the good of those I love; and, though I could never
feel for this little girl the hundredth part of the regard I bear your own
dear children, nor consider her, in any respect, so much my own, I
should hate myself if I were capable of neglecting her. Is not she a
sister's child? and could I bear to see her want while I had a bit of bread
to give her? My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm
heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of
life than do an ungenerous thing. So, if you are not against it, I will
write to my poor sister tomorrow, and make the proposal; and, as soon

as matters are settled, I will engage to get the child to Mansfield; you
shall have no trouble about it. My own trouble, you know, I never
regard. I will send Nanny to London on purpose, and she may have a
bed at her cousin the saddler's, and the child be appointed to meet her
there. They may easily get her from Portsmouth to town by the coach,
under the care of any creditable person that may chance to be going. I
dare say there is always some reputable tradesman's wife or other going
up."
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