Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/117

 easy and indolent." She has two married sisters, Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Price. Mrs. Norris has married a clergyman, to whom Sir Thomas has given the family living of Mansfield, and, as she has a decided "spirit of activity," no children, and nothing particular to do, she finds ample occupation in presiding over other people's affairs, especially in the Bertram family. Mrs. Price's marriage has been unfortunate; she "married, in the common phrase, to disoblige her family, and, by fixing on a lieutenant of marines without education, fortune, or connections, did it very thoroughly." A breach takes place between her and her sisters in consequence; her home is many miles distant from theirs, and no intercourse is kept up, until, after struggling on for eleven years in poverty and difficulty, with a fast-increasing family, and an unemployed husband, she is compelled to apply to her sisters for help.

"The letter was not unproductive; it re-established peace and kindness. Sir Thomas sent friendly advice and professions; Lady Bertram despatched money and baby linen, and Mrs. Norris wrote the letters. Such were its immediate effects, and within a twelvemonth a more important advantage to Mrs. Price resulted from it. Mrs. Norris was often observing to the others that she could not get her poor sister and her family out of her head, and that, much as they had all done for her, she seemed to be wanting to do more." Upon this she brings forward the proposition on which the story hinges.

What if they were among them to undertake the care of the eldest daughter, a girl now nine years old, of an age to require more attention than her poor mother could possibly give? The trouble and expense