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He was to be a clergyman Amid the cares and the complacency which his own children suggested, Sir Thomas did not forget to do what he could for the children of MrsPrice: he assisted her liberally in the education and disposal of her sons as they became old enough for a determinate pursuit; and Fanny, though almost totally separated from her family, was 19 Jane Austen sensible of the truest satisfaction in hearing of any kindness towards them, or of anything at all promising in their situation or conduct Once, and once only, in the course of many years, had she the happiness of being with WilliamOf the rest she saw nothing: nobody seemed to think of her ever going amongst them again, even for a visit, nobody at home seemed to want her; but William determining, soon after her removal, to be a sailor, was invited to spend a week with his sister in Northamptonshire before he went to seaTheir eager affection in meeting, their exquisite delight in being together, their hours of happy mirth, and moments of serious conference, may be imagined; as well as the sanguine views and spirits of the boy even to the last, and the misery of the girl when he left herLuckily the visit happened in the Christmas holidays, when she could directly look for comfort to her cousin Edmund; and he told her such charming things of what William was to do, and be hereafter, in consequence of his profession, as made her gradually admit that the separation might have some useEdmund?s friendship never failed her: his leaving Eton for Oxford made no change in his kind dispositions, and only afforded more frequent opportunities of chanel big proving themWithout any display of doing more than the rest, or any fear of doing too much, he was always true to her interests, and considerate of her feelings, trying to make her good qualities understood, and to conquer the diffidence which prevented their being more apparent; giving her advice, consolation, and encouragement Kept back as she was by everybody else, his single support could not bring her forward; but his attentions were otherwise of the highest importance in assisting the improvement of her mind, and extending its pleasuresHe knew her to be clever, to have a quick apprehension as well as good sense, and a fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itselfMiss Lee taught her French, and heard her read the daily portion of history; but he recommended the books which charmed her leisure hours, he encouraged her taste, and corrected her judgment: he made reading useful by talking to her of what she read, and heightened its attraction by judicious praiseIn return for such services she loved him better than anybody in the world except William: her heart was divided between the two 20 Mansfield Park CHAPTER III THE FIRST EVENT of any importance in the family was the death of MrNorris, which happened when Fanny was about fifteen, and necessarily introduced alterations and noveltiesNorris, on quitting the Parsonage, removed first to the Park, and afterwards to a small house of Sir Thomas?s in the village, and consoled herself for the loss of her husband by considering that she could do very well without him; and for her reduction of income by the evident gucci new bag necessity of stricter economy The living was hereafter for Edmund; and, had his uncle died a few years sooner, it would have been duly given to some friend to hold till he were old enough for ordersBut Tom?s extravagance had, previous to that event, been so great as to render a different disposal of the next presentation necessary, and the younger brother must help to pay for the pleasures of the elderThere was another family living actually held for Edmund; but though this circumstance had made the arrangement somewhat easier to Sir Thomas?s conscience, he could not but feel it to be an act of injustice, and he earnestly tried to impress his eldest son with the same conviction, in the hope of its producing a better effect than anything he had yet been able to say or do ?I blush for you, Tom,? said he, in his most dignified manner; ?I blush for the expedient which I am driven on, and I trust I may pity your feelings as a brother on the occasionYou have robbed Edmund for ten, twenty, thirty years, perhaps for life, of more than half the income which ought to be hisIt may hereafter be in my power, or in yours (I hope it will), to procure him better preferment; but it must not be forgotten that no benefit of that sort would have been beyond his natural claims on us, and that nothing can, in fact, be an equivalent for the certain advantage which he is now obliged to 21 Jane Austen forego through the urgency of your debts Tom listened with some shame and some sorrow; but escaping as quickly as possible, could soon with cheerful selfishness reflect, firstly, that he had not been half so much in debt as some of his replica cartier tank friends; secondly, that his father had made a most tiresome piece of work of it; and, thirdly, that the future incumbent, whoever he might be, would, in all probability, die very soonNorris?s death the presentation became the right of a Dr Grant, who came consequently to reside at Mansfield; and on proving to be a hearty man of forty-five, seemed likely to disappoint Mr Bertram?s calculationsBut ?no, he was a short-necked, apoplectic sort of fellow, and, plied well with good things, would soon pop off He had a wife about fifteen years his junior, but no children; and they entered the neighbourhood with the usual fair report of being very respectable, agreeable people The time was now come when Sir Thomas expected his sister-inlaw to claim her share in their niece, the change in MrsNorris?s situation, and the improvement in Fanny?s age, seeming not merely to do away any former objection to their living together, but even to give it the most decided eligibility; and as his own circumstances were rendered less fair than heretofore, by some recent losses on his West India estate, in addition to his eldest son?s extravagance, it became not undesirable to himself to be relieved from the expense of her support, and the obligation of her future provisionIn the fullness of his belief that such a thing must be, he mentioned its probability to his wife; and the first time of the subject?s occurring to her again happening to be when Fanny was present, she calmly observed to her, ?So, Fanny, you are going to leave us, and live with my sisterHow shall you like it?? Fanny was too much surprised to do more than repeat chanel purses and handbags her aunt?s words, ?Going to leave you?? ?Yes, my dear; why should you be astonished? You have been five years with us, and my sister always meant to take you when MrBut you must come up and tack on my patterns all the same The news was as disagreeable to Fanny as it had been unexpected She had never received kindness from her aunt Norris, and could not love her 22 Mansfield Park ?I shall be very sorry to go away,? said she, with a faltering voice ?Yes, I dare say you will; that?s natural enoughI suppose you have had as little to vex you since you came into this house as any creature in the world ?I hope I am not ungrateful, aunt,? said Fanny modestly ?No, my dear; I hope notI have always found you a very good girl ?And am I never to live here again?? ?Never, my dear; but you are sure of a comfortable homeIt can make very little difference to you, whether you are in one house or the other Fanny left the room with a very sorrowful heart; she could not feel the difference to be so small, she could not think of living with her aunt with anything like satisfactionAs soon as she met with Edmund she told him her distress ?Cousin,? said she, ?something is going to happen which I do not like at all; and though you have often persuaded me into being reconciled to things that I disliked at first, you will not be able to do it nowI am going to live entirely with my aunt Norris ?Indeed!? ?Yes; my aunt Bertram has just told me soI am to leave Mansfield Park, and go to the White House, I suppose, as soon as she is removed there ?Well, Fanny, and if the plan were not unpleasant to you, I should call it an excellent quilted white bag