nonvivility2047

@@@@@ Lady Bertram made no opposition ?I hope she will prove a well-disposed girl,? continued MrsNorris, ?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 evilWe 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 associatesHad 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 MrsNorris, ?and what I was saying to my husband this morningIt 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 10 Mansfield Park ?There will be some difficulty in our way, MrsNorris,? 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 BertramI 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 equalsTheir rank, fortune, rights, and expectations will always be differentIt is a point of great delicacy, and you must assist us in our endeavours to choose exactly the right line of conductNorris 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 MrsNorris did not write to her sister in vainPrice 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 welldisposed, good-humoured girl, and trusting they would never have cause to throw her offShe spoke of her farther as somewhat delicate and puny, but was sanguine in the hope of her being materially better for change of airPoor woman! she probably thought change of air might agree with many of her children 11 Jane Austen CHAPTER II THE LITTLE GIRL performed her long journey in safety; and at Northampton was met by MrsNorris, who thus regaled in the credit of being foremost to welcome her, and in the importance of leading her in to the others, and recommending her to their kindness Fanny Price was at this time just ten years old, and though there might not be much in her first appearance to captivate, there was, at least, nothing to disgust her relationsShe was small of her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking from notice; but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar, her voice was sweet, and when she spoke her countenance was pretty