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@@@@@ From about the time of her entering the family, Lady Bertram, in consequence of a little ill-health, and a great deal of indolence, gave up the house in town, which she had been used to occupy every spring, and remained wholly in the country, leaving Sir Thomas to attend his duty in Parliament, with whatever increase or diminution of comfort might arise from her absenceIn the country, therefore, the Miss Bertrams continued to exercise their memories, practise their duets, and grow tall and womanly: and their father saw them becoming in person, manner, and accomplishments, everything that could satisfy his anxietyHis eldest son was careless and extravagant, and had already given him much uneasiness; but his other children promised him nothing but goodHis daughters, he felt, while they retained the name of Bertram, must be giving it new grace, and in quitting it, he trusted, would extend its respectable alliances; and the character of Edmund, his strong good sense and uprightness of mind, bid most fairly for utility, honour, and happiness to himself and all his connexionsHe 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 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 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 his