@@@@@Lady Bertram could not give her much time,
@@@@@Lady Bertram could not give
her much time, or many words, but she felt her, as Fanny’s sister, to
have a claim at Mansfield, and was ready to kiss and like her; and
Susan was more than satisfied, for she came perfectly aware that noth393
Jane Austen
ing but ill-humour was to be expected from aunt Norris; and was so
provided with happiness, so strong in that best of blessings, an escape
from many certain evils, that she could have stood against a great deal
more indifference than she met with from the others
She was now left a good deal to herself, to get acquainted with the
house and grounds as she could, and spent her days very happily in
so doing, while those who might otherwise have attended to her
were shut up, or wholly occupied each with the person quite dependent
on them, at this time, for everything like comfort; Edmund
trying to bury his own feelings in exertions for the relief of his
brother’s, and Fanny devoted to her aunt Bertram, returning to every
former office with more than former zeal, and thinking she could
never do enough for one who seemed so much to want her
To talk over the dreadful business with Fanny, talk and lament,
was all Lady Bertram’s consolationTo be listened to and borne with,
and hear the voice of kindness and sympathy in return, was everything
that could be done for herTo be otherwise comforted was
out of the questionThe case admitted of no comfortLady Bertram
did not think deeply, but, guided by Sir Thomas, she thought justly
on all important points; and she saw, therefore, in all its enormity,
what had happened, and neither endeavoured herself, nor required
Fanny to advise her, to think little of guilt and infamy
Her affections were not acute, nor was her mind tenaciousAfter
a time, Fanny found it not impossible to direct her thoughts to
other subjects, and revive some interest in the usual occupations;
but whenever Lady Bertram was fixed on the event, she could see it
only in one light, as comprehending the loss of a daughter, and a
disgrace never to be wiped off
Fanny learnt from her all the particulars which had yet transpired
Her aunt was no very methodical narrator, but with the help of
some letters to and from Sir Thomas, and what she already knew
herself, and could reasonably combine, she was soon able to understand
quite as much as she wished of the circumstances attending
the storyRushworth had gone, for the Easter holidays, to Twickenham,
with a family whom she had just grown intimate with: a family of
lively, agreeable manners, and probably of morals and discretion to
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suit, for to their house MrCrawford had constant access at all times
His having been in the same neighbourhood Fanny already knewRushworth had been gone at this time to Bath, to pass a few
days with his mother, and bring her back to town, and Maria was
with these friends without any restraint, without even Julia; for Julia
had removed from Wimpole Street two or three weeks before, on a
visit to some relations of Sir Thomas; a removal which her father
and mother were now disposed to attribute to some view of convenience
on MrVery soon after the Rushworths’ return
to Wimpole Street, Sir Thomas had received a letter from an
old and most particular friend in London, who hearing and witnessing
a good deal to alarm him in that quarter, wrote to recommend
Sir Thomas’s coming to London himself, and using his influence
with his daughter to put an end to the intimacy which was
already exposing her to unpleasant remarks, and evidently making
Mr
Sir Thomas was preparing to act upon this letter, without communicating
its contents to any creature at Mansfield, when it was followed
by another, sent express from the same friend, to break to him
the almost desperate situation in which affairs then stood with the
young peopleRushworth had left her husband’s house: Mr
Rushworth had been in great anger and distress to him (MrHarding)
for his advice; MrHarding feared there had been at least very flagrant
indiscretionThe maidservant of MrsRushworth, senior, threatened
alarminglyHe was doing all in his power to quiet everything, with
the hope of MrsRushworth’s return, but was so much counteracted
in Wimpole Street by the influence of Mr