Mansfield Park | Page 6

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 to 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, to 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."
Mrs. Norris was quite at his service; and though she perfectly agreed
with him as to its being a most difficult thing, encouraged him to hope
that between them it would be easily managed.

It will be readily believed that Mrs. Norris did not write to her sister in
vain. Mrs. Price seemed rather surprised that a girl should be fixed on,
when she had so many fine boys, but accepted the offer most thankfully,
assuring them of her daughter's being a very well-disposed,