zu898shang

Edmund was uniformly kind himself; and she had nothing worse to endure on the part of Tom than that sort of merriment which a young man of seventeen will always think fair with a child of ten He was just entering into life, full of spirits, and with all the liberal dispositions of an eldest son, who feels born only for expense and enjoymentHis kindness to his little cousin was consistent with his situation and rights: he made her some very pretty presents, and laughed at her As her appearance and spirits improved, Sir Thomas and Mrs Norris thought with greater satisfaction of their benevolent plan; and it was pretty soon decided between them that, though far from clever, she showed a tractable disposition, and seemed likely to give them little troubleA mean opinion of her abilities was not confined to themFanny could read, work, and write, but she had been taught nothing more; and as her cousins found her ignorant of many things with which they had been long familiar, they thought her prodigiously stupid, and for the first two or three weeks were continually bringing some fresh report of it into the drawing-room ?Dear mama, only think, my cousin cannot put the map of Europe together?or my cousin cannot tell the principal rivers in Russia? or, she never heard of Asia Minor?or she does not know the difference between water-colours and crayons!?How strange!?Did you ever hear anything so stupid?? ?My dear,? their considerate aunt would reply, ?it is very bad, but you must not expect everybody to be as forward and quick at learning as yourself ?But, aunt, she is really so very ignorant!?Do you know, we asked her last night which way she would go to get to Ireland; and she said, she should cross to the Isle of WightShe thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight, and she calls it the Island, as if there were no other island in the worldI am sure I should have chanel necklace been ashamed of myself, if I had not known better long before I was so old as she is I cannot remember the time when I did not know a great deal that she has not the least notion of yetHow long ago it is, aunt, since we used to repeat the chronological order of the kings of England, 17 Jane Austen with the dates of their accession, and most of the principal events of their reigns!? ?Yes,? added the other; ?and of the Roman emperors as low as Severus; besides a great deal of the heathen mythology, and all the metals, semi-metals, planets, and distinguished philosophers ?Very true indeed, my dears, but you are blessed with wonderful memories, and your poor cousin has probably none at allThere is a vast deal of difference in memories, as well as in everything else, and therefore you must make allowance for your cousin, and pity her deficiencyAnd remember that, if you are ever so forward and clever yourselves, you should always be modest; for, much as you know already, there is a great deal more for you to learn ?Yes, I know there is, till I am seventeenBut I must tell you another thing of Fanny, so odd and so stupidDo you know, she says she does not want to learn either music or drawing ?To be sure, my dear, that is very stupid indeed, and shows a great want of genius and emulationBut, all things considered, I do not know whether it is not as well that it should be so, for, though you know (owing to me) your papa and mama are so good as to bring her up with you, it is not at all necessary that she should be as accomplished as you are;?on the contrary, it is much more desirable that there should be a difference Such were the counsels by which MrsNorris assisted to form her nieces? minds; and it is not very wonderful that, with all their promising talents and early information, they should be entirely deficient in the less common acquirements of prada handbags sale self-knowledge, generosity and humilityIn everything but disposition they were admirably taught Sir Thomas did not know what was wanting, because, though a truly anxious father, he was not outwardly affectionate, and the reserve of his manner repressed all the flow of their spirits before him To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid not the smallest attentionShe had not time for such caresShe was a woman who spent her days in sitting, nicely dressed, on a sofa, doing some long piece of needlework, of little use and no beauty, thinking more of her pug than her children, but very indulgent to the latter when it did not put herself to inconvenience, guided in everything important by Sir Thomas, and in smaller concerns by her sisterHad she 18 Mansfield Park possessed greater leisure for the service of her girls, she would probably have supposed it unnecessary, for they were under the care of a governess, with proper masters, and could want nothing moreAs for Fanny?s being stupid at learning, ?she could only say it was very unlucky, but some people were stupid, and Fanny must take more pains: she did not know what else was to be done; and, except her being so dull, she must add she saw no harm in the poor little thing, and always found her very handy and quick in carrying messages, and fetching, what she wanted Fanny, with all her faults of ignorance and timidity, was fixed at Mansfield Park, and learning to transfer in its favour much of her attachment to her former home, grew up there not unhappily among her cousinsThere was no positive ill-nature in Maria or Julia; and though Fanny was often mortified by their treatment of her, she thought too lowly of her own claims to feel injured by it 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 coco chanel handbags 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, coco chanel jewelry 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 louis vuitton pink of