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

“Me! never. I never spoke a syllable about it to Sir Thomas, nor he to me. Fanny live with me! Good heaven! what could I do with Fanny? Me! a poor, helpless, forlorn widow, unfit for anything, my spirits quite broke down; what could I do with a girl of fifteen? the very age to need most attention and care, and put the cheerfullest spirits to the test! Sir Thomas could not seriously expect such a thing! How came Sir Thomas to speak to you about it?”

“Indeed, I do not know. I suppose he thought it best.”

“But what did he say? He could not say he wished me to take Fanny. I am sure in his heart he could not.”

“No; he only said he thought it very likely; and I thought so too. We both thought it would be a comfort to you. But if you do not like it, there is no more to be said. She is no encumbrance here.”

“Dear sister, if you consider my unhappy state, how can she be any comfort to me? Here am I, a poor desolate widow—” Mrs. Norris went on at length, finishing with: “If I could wish it for my own sake, I would not do so unjust a thing by the poor girl. She is in good hands. I must struggle through my sorrows and difficulties as I can.”

“Then you will not mind living by yourself quite alone? Particularly considering your—ahem—delicate and chronic monthly condition?”

“Lady Bertram, I do not complain. I know I cannot live as I have done, but I must retrench where I can—” (after much more of this, Lady Bertram started to nod off) “—to be able to lay by a little at the end of the year.”

“I dare say you will,” said Lady Bertram, jolting awake.

.“My object, Lady Bertram, is to be of use to those that come after me. It is for your children’s good that I wish to be richer. I have nobody else to care for, but I should be very glad to think I could leave a little trifle among them.”

“You are very good, but do not trouble yourself about them. They are sure of being well provided for. Sir Thomas will take care of that.”

“Why, you know, Sir Thomas’s means will be rather reduced if the Antigua estate is to make such poor returns.”

“Oh! that will soon be settled. Sir Thomas has been writing about it, I know. And there is the—ahem—” Lady Bertram went silent, thinking of what was up in the attic—