William was almost as happy in the plan as his sister. It would be the greatest pleasure to him to have her there to the last moment before he sailed. And besides, he wanted her so very much to see the Thrush before she went out of harbour—the Thrush was certainly the finest sloop in the service—and there were several improvements in the dockyard, too, which he quite longed to show off.

“I do not know how it is,” said he; “but we seem to want some of your nice ways and orderliness at my father’s. The house is always in confusion. You will set things going in a better way. You will tell my mother how it all ought to be, and you will be so useful to Susan, and you will teach Betsey, and make the boys love and mind you!”

There remained but a very few days more to be spent at Mansfield. The young travellers had a minor alarm when Mrs. Norris found out that they were to travel post and was struck with the idea of there being room for a third in the carriage. She was suddenly seized with a strong inclination to go with them, to go and see her poor dear sister Price—and Mrs. Norris went on at great yapping length about it.

William and Fanny were horror-struck at the idea.

All the comfort of their comfortable journey would be destroyed at once. With woeful countenances they looked at each other. Their suspense lasted an hour or two.

Finally, it occurred to Mrs. Norris that, though taken to Portsmouth for nothing, she would not avoid having to pay with her own expenses for the trip back again. Suddenly she recalled that she could not possibly be spared from Mansfield Park at present, and must endure the sacrifice. Thus, her poor dear sister Price was left to all the disappointment of her missing such an opportunity, and another twenty years’ absence, perhaps, begun.

Edmund’s plans were also affected by this Portsmouth journey, this absence of Fanny’s. He too had a sacrifice to make. He had intended, about this time, to be going to London. But now he could not leave his father and mother just when everybody else of most importance to their comfort was leaving them. And thus, with much secret regret, he delayed for a few weeks longer a journey which he hoped would fix his happiness for ever.

He told Fanny of it. She knew so much already, that she must know everything. They had another confidential discourse about Miss Crawford; and Fanny expected it to be the last time in which Miss Crawford’s name would ever be mentioned so freely.