Page:Jane Austen (Sarah Fanny Malden 1889).djvu/124

 now take the opportunity of installing Fanny in her home.

But "Mrs. Norris had not the smallest intention of taking her To prevent its being expected, she had fixed on the smallest habitation which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish, the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her servants, and allow a spare room for a friend, of which she made a very particular point. The spare rooms at the Parsonage had never been wanted, but the absolute necessity of a spare room for a friend was now never forgotten. Not all her precautions, however, could save her from being suspected of something better; or, perhaps, her very display of the importance of a spare room might have misled Sir Thomas to suppose it really intended for Fanny. Lady Bertram soon brought the matter to a certainty by carelessly observing, to Mrs. Norris, 'I think, sister, we need not keep Miss Lee any longer when Fanny goes to live with you.'

"Mrs. Norris almost started. 'Live with me, dear Lady Bertram! What do you mean?'

Is she not to live with you? I thought you had settled it with Sir Thomas.'

Me? Never! I never spoke a word about it to Sir Thomas, nor he to me. Fanny live with me! the last thing in the world for me to think of, or for anybody to wish that really knows us both. Good Heaven! what could I do with Fanny? Me! a poor, helpless, forlorn widow, unfit for anything, my spirits quite broken down; what could I do with a girl at her time of life? A girl of fifteen! the very age of all others to need most attention and care, and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test. Sure, Sir Thomas