Chapter II

by Jane Austen

　　The little girl performed her long journey in safety;and at Northampton was met by Mrs. Norris, who thusregaled 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 appearanceto captivate, there was, at least, nothing to disgusther relations. She was small of her age, with noglow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty;exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking from notice;but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar, her voicewas sweet, and when she spoke her countenance was pretty.Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram received her very kindly;and Sir Thomas, seeing how much she needed encouragement,tried to be all that was conciliating: but he hadto work against a most untoward gravity of deportment;and Lady Bertram, without taking half so much trouble,or speaking one word where he spoke ten, by the mere aidof a good-humoured smile, became immediately the less awfulcharacter of the two.The young people were all at home, and sustained theirshare in the introduction very well, with much good humour,and no embarrassment, at least on the part of the sons, who,at seventeen and sixteen, and tall of their age, had allthe grandeur of men in the eyes of their little cousin.The two girls were more at a loss from being youngerand in greater awe of their father, who addressed themon the occasion with rather an injudicious particularity.But they were too much used to company and praise to haveanything like natural shyness; and their confidenceincreasing from their cousin's total want of it,they were soon able to take a full survey of her faceand her frock in easy indifference.They were a remarkably fine family, the sons very well-looking,the daughters decidedly handsome, and all of them well-grownand forward of their age, which produced as strikinga difference between the cousins in person, as educationhad given to their address; and no one would have supposedthe girls so nearly of an age as they really were. There werein fact but two years between the youngest and Fanny.Julia Bertram was only twelve, and Maria but a year older.The little visitor meanwhile was as unhappy as possible.Afraid of everybody, ashamed of herself, and longingfor the home she had left, she knew not how to look up,and could scarcely speak to be heard, or without crying.Mrs. Norris had been talking to her the whole way fromNorthampton of her wonderful good fortune, and theextraordinary degree of gratitude and good behaviourwhich it ought to produce, and her consciousness ofmisery was therefore increased by the idea of its beinga wicked thing for her not to be happy. The fatigue,too, of so long a journey, became soon no trifling evil.In vain were the well-meant condescensions of Sir Thomas,and all the officious prognostications of Mrs. Norristhat she would be a good girl; in vain did Lady Bertramsmile and make her sit on the sofa with herself and pug,and vain was even the sight of a gooseberry tart towardsgiving her comfort; she could scarcely swallow two mouthfulsbefore tears interrupted her, and sleep seeming to be herlikeliest friend, she was taken to finish her sorrows in bed."This is not a very promising beginning," said Mrs. Norris,when Fanny had left the room. "After all that I said to heras we came along, I thought she would have behaved better;I told her how much might depend upon her acquittingherself well at first. I wish there may not be a littlesulkiness of temper--her poor mother had a good deal;but we must make allowances for such a child--and Ido not know that her being sorry to leave her home isreally against her, for, with all its faults, it _was_her home, and she cannot as yet understand how much shehas changed for the better; but then there is moderationin all things."It required a longer time, however, than Mrs. Norriswas inclined to allow, to reconcile Fanny to the noveltyof Mansfield Park, and the separation from everybodyshe had been used to. Her feelings were very acute,and too little understood to be properly attended to.Nobody meant to be unkind, but nobody put themselves outof their way to secure her comfort.The holiday allowed to the Miss Bertrams the next day,on purpose to afford leisure for getting acquainted with,and entertaining their young cousin, produced little union.They could not but hold her cheap on finding that shehad but two sashes, and had never learned French; and whenthey perceived her to be little struck with the duet theywere so good as to play, they could do no more than makeher a generous present of some of their least valued toys,and leave her to herself, while they adjourned to whatevermight be the favourite holiday sport of the moment,making artificial flowers or wasting gold paper.Fanny, whether near or from her cousins, whether inthe schoolroom, the drawing-room, or the shrubbery,was equally forlorn, finding something to fear inevery person and place. She was disheartened by LadyBertram's silence, awed by Sir Thomas's grave looks,and quite overcome by Mrs. Norris's admonitions.Her elder cousins mortified her by reflections on her size,and abashed her by noticing her shyness: Miss Leewondered at her ignorance, and the maid-servants sneeredat her clothes; and when to these sorrows was added the ideaof the brothers and sisters among whom she had alwaysbeen important as playfellow, instructress, and nurse,the despondence that sunk her little heart was severe.The grandeur of the house astonished, but could not console her.The rooms were too large for her to move in with ease:whatever she touched she expected to injure, and shecrept about in constant terror of something or other;often retreating towards her own chamber to cry;and the little girl who was spoken of in the drawing-roomwhen she left it at night as seeming so desirably sensibleof her peculiar good fortune, ended every day's sorrowsby sobbing herself to sleep. A week had passed in this way,and no suspicion of it conveyed by her quiet passive manner,when she was found one morning by her cousin Edmund,the youngest of the sons, sitting crying on the attic stairs."My dear little cousin," said he, with all the gentlenessof an excellent nature, "what can be the matter?" And sittingdown by her, he was at great pains to overcome her shamein being so surprised, and persuade her to speak openly."Was she ill? or was anybody angry with her? or had shequarrelled with Maria and Julia? or was she puzzledabout anything in her lesson that he could explain?Did she, in short, want anything he could possibly get her,or do for her? For a long while no answer could beobtained beyond a "no, no--not at all--no, thank you";but he still persevered; and no sooner had he begun torevert to her own home, than her increased sobs explainedto him where the grievance lay. He tried to console her."You are sorry to leave Mama, my dear little Fanny,"said he, "which shows you to be a very good girl; but youmust remember that you are with relations and friends,who all love you, and wish to make you happy. Let us walkout in the park, and you shall tell me all about yourbrothers and sisters."On pursuing the subject, he found that, dear as allthese brothers and sisters generally were, there was oneamong them who ran more in her thoughts than the rest.It was William whom she talked of most, and wanted mostto see. William, the eldest, a year older than herself,her constant companion and friend; her advocate with hermother (of whom he was the darling) in every distress."William did not like she should come away; he had toldher he should miss her very much indeed." "But William willwrite to you, I dare say." "Yes, he had promised he would,but he had told _her_ to write first." "And when shallyou do it?" She hung her head and answered hesitatingly,"she did not know; she had not any paper.""If that be all your difficulty, I will furnish youwith paper and every other material, and you may writeyour letter whenever you choose. Would it make youhappy to write to William?""Yes, very.""Then let it be done now. Come with me into thebreakfast-room, we shall find everything there,and be sure of having the room to ourselves.""But, cousin, will it go to the post?""Yes, depend upon me it shall: it shall go with theother letters; and, as your uncle will frank it,it will cost William nothing.""My uncle!" repeated Fanny, with a frightened look."Yes, when you have written the letter, I will take itto my father to frank."Fanny thought it a bold measure, but offered no furtherresistance; and they went together into the breakfast-room,where Edmund prepared her paper, and ruled her lineswith all the goodwill that her brother could himselfhave felt, and probably with somewhat more exactness.He continued with her the whole time of her writing,to assist her with his penknife or his orthography,as either were wanted; and added to these attentions,which she felt very much, a kindness to her brother whichdelighted her beyond all the rest. He wrote with his ownhand his love to his cousin William, and sent him halfa guinea under the seal. Fanny's feelings on the occasionwere such as she believed herself incapable of expressing;but her countenance and a few artless words fullyconveyed all their gratitude and delight, and her cousinbegan to find her an interesting object. He talkedto her more, and, from all that she said, was convincedof her having an affectionate heart, and a strong desireof doing right; and he could perceive her to be fartherentitled to attention by great sensibility of her situation,and great timidity. He had never knowingly given her pain,but he now felt that she required more positive kindness;and with that view endeavoured, in the first place,to lessen her fears of them all, and gave her especiallya great deal of good advice as to playing with Mariaand Julia, and being as merry as possible.From this day Fanny grew more comfortable. She feltthat she had a friend, and the kindness of her cousinEdmund gave her better spirits with everybody else.The place became less strange, and the people less formidable;and if there were some amongst them whom she could notcease to fear, she began at least to know their ways,and to catch the best manner of conforming to them.The little rusticities and awkwardnesses which had atfirst made grievous inroads on the tranquillity of all,and not least of herself, necessarily wore away, and shewas no longer materially afraid to appear before her uncle,nor did her aunt Norris's voice make her start very much.To her cousins she became occasionally an acceptable companion.Though unworthy, from inferiority of age and strength,to be their constant associate, their pleasures and schemeswere sometimes of a nature to make a third very useful,especially when that third was of an obliging,yielding temper; and they could not but own, when theiraunt inquired into her faults, or their brother Edmundurged her claims to their kindness, that "Fanny wasgood-natured enough."Edmund was uniformly kind himself; and she had nothingworse to endure on the part of Tom than that sortof merriment which a young man of seventeen will alwaysthink fair with a child of ten. He was just enteringinto life, full of spirits, and with all the liberaldispositions of an eldest son, who feels born onlyfor expense and enjoyment. His kindness to his littlecousin 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. Norristhought 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 trouble. A meanopinion of her abilities was not confined to _them_.Fanny could read, work, and write, but she had been taughtnothing more; and as her cousins found her ignorantof many things with which they had been long familiar,they thought her prodigiously stupid, and for the firsttwo or three weeks were continually bringing some freshreport 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 knowthe 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 everybodyto 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 getto Ireland; and she said, she should cross to the Isleof Wight. She thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight,and she calls it _the_ _Island_, as if there were noother island in the world. I am sure I should have beenashamed of myself, if I had not known better long before Iwas so old as she is. I cannot remember the time when Idid not know a great deal that she has not the leastnotion of yet. How long ago it is, aunt, since we usedto repeat the chronological order of the kings of England,with the dates of their accession, and most of the principalevents of their reigns!""Yes," added the other; "and of the Roman emperorsas low as Severus; besides a great deal of the heathenmythology, and all the metals, semi-metals, planets,and distinguished philosophers.""Very true indeed, my dears, but you are blessed withwonderful memories, and your poor cousin has probably noneat all. There is a vast deal of difference in memories,as well as in everything else, and therefore you mustmake allowance for your cousin, and pity her deficiency.And remember that, if you are ever so forward and cleveryourselves, you should always be modest; for, much as youknow already, there is a great deal more for you to learn.""Yes, I know there is, till I am seventeen. But I musttell you another thing of Fanny, so odd and so stupid.Do you know, she says she does not want to learn eithermusic or drawing.""To be sure, my dear, that is very stupid indeed,and shows a great want of genius and emulation.But, all things considered, I do not know whether it isnot as well that it should be so, for, though you know(owing to me) your papa and mama are so good as to bringher up with you, it is not at all necessary that sheshould 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 Mrs. Norris assisted to formher 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 commonacquirements of self-knowledge, generosity and humility.In everything but disposition they were admirably taught.Sir Thomas did not know what was wanting, because, though atruly anxious father, he was not outwardly affectionate,and the reserve of his manner repressed all the flow of theirspirits before him.To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid notthe smallest attention. She had not time for such cares.She was a woman who spent her days in sitting, nicely dressed,on a sofa, doing some long piece of needlework, of little useand no beauty, thinking more of her pug than her children,but very indulgent to the latter when it did not putherself to inconvenience, guided in everything importantby Sir Thomas, and in smaller concerns by her sister.Had she possessed greater leisure for the service of her girls,she would probably have supposed it unnecessary, for theywere under the care of a governess, with proper masters,and could want nothing more. As for Fanny's being stupidat 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 herbeing so dull, she must add she saw no harm in the poorlittle thing, and always found her very handy and quickin carrying messages, and fetching, what she wanted."Fanny, with all her faults of ignorance and timidity,was fixed at Mansfield Park, and learning to transferin its favour much of her attachment to her former home,grew up there not unhappily among her cousins. There wasno positive ill-nature in Maria or Julia; and thoughFanny was often mortified by their treatment of her,she thought too lowly of her own claims to feel injuredby 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 been used to occupy every spring,and remained wholly in the country, leaving Sir Thomasto attend his duty in Parliament, with whatever increaseor diminution of comfort might arise from her absence.In the country, therefore, the Miss Bertrams continuedto exercise their memories, practise their duets, and growtall and womanly: and their father saw them becomingin person, manner, and accomplishments, everything thatcould satisfy his anxiety. His eldest son was carelessand extravagant, and had already given him much uneasiness;but his other children promised him nothing but good.His daughters, he felt, while they retained the nameof 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 senseand uprightness of mind, bid most fairly for utility,honour, and happiness to himself and all his connexions.He was to be a clergyman.Amid the cares and the complacency which his ownchildren suggested, Sir Thomas did not forget to do whathe could for the children of Mrs. Price: he assistedher liberally in the education and disposal of her sonsas they became old enough for a determinate pursuit;and Fanny, though almost totally separated from her family,was sensible of the truest satisfaction in hearing of anykindness towards them, or of anything at all promisingin their situation or conduct. Once, and once only,in the course of many years, had she the happinessof being with William. Of 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 hissister in Northamptonshire before he went to sea.Their eager affection in meeting, their exquisitedelight 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 evento the last, and the misery of the girl when he left her.Luckily 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 wasto do, and be hereafter, in consequence of his profession,as made her gradually admit that the separation mighthave some use. Edmund's friendship never failed her:his leaving Eton for Oxford made no change in his kinddispositions, and only afforded more frequent opportunitiesof proving them. Without any display of doing more thanthe rest, or any fear of doing too much, he was alwaystrue to her interests, and considerate of her feelings,trying to make her good qualities understood, and to conquerthe diffidence which prevented their being more apparent;giving her advice, consolation, and encouragement.Kept back as she was by everybody else, his single supportcould not bring her forward; but his attentions were otherwiseof the highest importance in assisting the improvementof her mind, and extending its pleasures. He knew her tobe clever, to have a quick apprehension as well as good sense,and a fondness for reading, which, properly directed,must be an education in itself. Miss Lee taught her French,and heard her read the daily portion of history; but herecommended 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 praise.In return for such services she loved him better thananybody in the world except William: her heart was dividedbetween the two.