Mrs。Norriswasalittleconfoundedandasnearlybeingsilencedasevershehadbeeninherlife；forshewasashamedtoconfesshavingneverseenanyoftheimproprietywhichwassoglaringtoSirThomas，andwouldnothaveadmittedthatherinfluencewasinsufficient——
thatshemighthavetalkedinvain。Heronlyresourcewastogetoutofthesubjectasfastaspossible，andturnthecurrentofSirThomas’sideasintoahappierchannel。
Shehadagreatdealtoinsinuateinherownpraiseasto_general_attentiontotheinterestandcomfortofhisfamily，muchexertionandmanysacrificestoglanceatintheformofhurriedwalksandsuddenremovalsfromherownfireside，andmanyexcellenthintsofdistrustandeconomytoLadyBertramandEdmundtodetail，wherebyamostconsiderablesavinghadalwaysarisen，andmorethanonebadservantbeendetected。ButherchiefstrengthlayinSotherton。HergreatestsupportandglorywasinhavingformedtheconnexionwiththeRushworths。
_There_shewasimpregnable。ShetooktoherselfallthecreditofbringingMr。Rushworth’sadmirationofMariatoanyeffect。“IfIhadnotbeenactive，“saidshe，“andmadeapointofbeingintroducedtohismother，andthenprevailedonmysistertopaythefirstvisit，IamascertainasIsitherethatnothingwouldhavecomeofit；forMr。Rushworthisthesortofamiablemodestyoungmanwhowantsagreatdealofencouragement，andthereweregirlsenoughonthecatchforhimifwehadbeenidle。ButIleftnostoneunturned。Iwasreadytomoveheavenandearthtopersuademysister，andatlastIdidpersuadeher。YouknowthedistancetoSotherton；itwasinthemiddleofwinter，andtheroadsalmostimpassable，butIdidpersuadeher。“
“Iknowhowgreat，howjustlygreat，yourinfluenceiswithLadyBertramandherchildren，andamthemoreconcernedthatitshouldnothavebeen。“