Allthisbecamegraduallyevident，andgraduallyplacedSusanbeforehersisterasanobjectofmingledcompassionandrespect。Thathermannerwaswrong，however，attimesverywrong，hermeasuresoftenill-chosenandill-timed，andherlooksandlanguageveryoftenindefensible，Fannycouldnotceasetofeel；butshebegantohopetheymightberectified。Susan，shefound，lookeduptoherandwishedforhergoodopinion；andnewasanythinglikeanofficeofauthoritywastoFanny，newasitwastoimagineherselfcapableofguidingorinforminganyone，shedidresolvetogiveoccasionalhintstoSusan，andendeavourtoexerciseforheradvantagethejusternotionsofwhatwasduetoeverybody，andwhatwouldbewisestforherself，whichherownmorefavourededucationhadfixedinher。
Herinfluence，oratleasttheconsciousnessanduseofit，originatedinanactofkindnessbySusan，which，aftermanyhesitationsofdelicacy，sheatlastworkedherselfupto。
Ithadveryearlyoccurredtoherthatasmallsumofmoneymight，perhaps，restorepeaceforeveronthesoresubjectofthesilverknife，canvassedasitnowwascontinually，andthericheswhichshewasinpossessionofherself，herunclehavinggivenher10atparting，madeherasableasshewaswillingtobegenerous。
Butshewassowhollyunusedtoconferfavours，exceptontheverypoor，sounpractisedinremovingevils，orbestowingkindnessesamongherequals，andsofearfulofappearingtoelevateherselfasagreatladyathome，thatittooksometimetodeterminethatitwouldnotbeunbecominginhertomakesuchapresent。Itwasmade，however，atlast：asilverknifewasboughtforBetsey，andacceptedwithgreatdelight，itsnewnessgivingiteveryadvantageovertheotherthatcouldbedesired；
Susanwasestablishedinthefullpossessionofherown，Betseyhandsomelydeclaringthatnowshehadgotonesomuchprettierherself，sheshouldneverwant_that_again；andnoreproachseemedconveyedtotheequallysatisfiedmother，whichFannyhadalmostfearedtobeimpossible。Thedeedthoroughlyanswered：asourceofdomesticaltercationwasentirelydoneaway，anditwasthemeansofopeningSusan’shearttoher，andgivinghersomethingmoretoloveandbeinterestedin。Susanshewedthatshehaddelicacy：
pleasedasshewastobemistressofpropertywhichshehadbeenstrugglingforatleasttwoyears，sheyetfearedthathersister’sjudgmenthadbeenagainsther，andthatareproofwasdesignedherforhavingsostruggledastomakethepurchasenecessaryforthetranquillityofthehouse。
Hertemperwasopen。Sheacknowledgedherfears，blamedherselfforhavingcontendedsowarmly；
andfromthathourFanny，understandingtheworthofherdispositionandperceivinghowfullyshewasinclinedtoseekhergoodopinionandrefertoherjudgment，begantofeelagaintheblessingofaffection，andtoentertainthehopeofbeingusefultoamindsomuchinneedofhelp，andsomuchdeservingit。Shegaveadvice，advicetoosoundtoberesistedbyagoodunderstanding，andgivensomildlyandconsideratelyasnottoirritateanimperfecttemper，andshehadthehappinessofobservingitsgoodeffectsnotunfrequently。Morewasnotexpectedbyonewho，whileseeingalltheobligationandexpediencyofsubmissionandforbearance，sawalsowithsympatheticacutenessoffeelingallthatmustbehourlygratingtoagirllikeSusan。Hergreatestwonderonthesubjectsoonbecame——notthatSusanshouldhavebeenprovokedintodisrespectandimpatienceagainstherbetterknowledge——
butthatsomuchbetterknowledge，somanygoodnotionsshouldhavebeenhersatall；andthat，broughtupinthemidstofnegligenceanderror，sheshouldhaveformedsuchproperopinionsofwhatoughttobe；she，whohadhadnocousinEdmundtodirectherthoughtsorfixherprinciples。
Theintimacythusbegunbetweenthemwasamaterialadvantagetoeach。Bysittingtogetherupstairs，theyavoidedagreatdealofthedisturbanceofthehouse；
Fannyhadpeace，andSusanlearnedtothinkitnomisfortunetobequietlyemployed。Theysatwithoutafire；butthatwasaprivationfamiliareventoFanny，andshesufferedthelessbecauseremindedbyitoftheEastroom。Itwastheonlypointofresemblance。
Inspace，light，furniture，andprospect，therewasnothingalikeinthetwoapartments；andsheoftenheavedasighattheremembranceofallherbooksandboxes，andvariouscomfortsthere。Bydegreesthegirlscametospendthechiefofthemorningupstairs，atfirstonlyinworkingandtalking，butafterafewdays，theremembranceofthesaidbooksgrewsopotentandstimulativethatFannyfounditimpossiblenottotryforbooksagain。Therewerenoneinherfather’shouse；butwealthisluxuriousanddaring，andsomeofhersfounditswaytoacirculatinglibrary。
Shebecameasubscriber；amazedatbeinganything_in_
_propria__persona_，amazedatherowndoingsineveryway，tobearenter，achuserofbooks!Andtobehavinganyone’simprovementinviewinherchoice!Butsoitwas。
Susanhadreadnothing，andFannylongedtogiveherashareinherownfirstpleasures，andinspireatasteforthebiographyandpoetrywhichshedelightedinherself。
Inthisoccupationshehoped，moreover，toburysomeoftherecollectionsofMansfield，whichweretooapttoseizehermindifherfingersonlywerebusy；
and，especiallyatthistime，hopeditmightbeusefulindivertingherthoughtsfrompursuingEdmundtoLondon，whither，ontheauthorityofheraunt’slastletter，sheknewhewasgone。Shehadnodoubtofwhatwouldensue。
Thepromisednotificationwashangingoverherhead。
Thepostman’sknockwithintheneighbourhoodwasbeginningtobringitsdailyterrors，andifreadingcouldbanishtheideaforevenhalfanhour，itwassomethinggained。
I
AweekwasgonesinceEdmundmightbesupposedintown，andFannyhadheardnothingofhim。
Therewerethreedifferentconclusionstobedrawnfromhissilence，betweenwhichhermindwasinfluctuation；
eachofthemattimesbeingheldthemostprobable。
Eitherhisgoinghadbeenagaindelayed，orhehadyetprocurednoopportunityofseeingMissCrawfordalone，orhewastoohappyforletter-writing!
Onemorning，aboutthistime，FannyhavingnowbeennearlyfourweeksfromMansfield，apointwhichsheneverfailedtothinkoverandcalculateeveryday，assheandSusanwerepreparingtoremove，asusual，upstairs，theywerestoppedbytheknockofavisitor，whomtheyfelttheycouldnotavoid，fromRebecca’salertnessingoingtothedoor，adutywhichalwaysinterestedherbeyondanyother。
Itwasagentleman’svoice；itwasavoicethatFannywasjustturningpaleabout，whenMr。Crawfordwalkedintotheroom。
Goodsense，likehers，willalwaysactwhenreallycalledupon；andshefoundthatshehadbeenabletonamehimtohermother，andrecallherremembranceofthename，asthatof“William’sfriend，“thoughshecouldnotpreviouslyhavebelievedherselfcapableofutteringasyllableatsuchamoment。TheconsciousnessofhisbeingknownthereonlyasWilliam’sfriendwassomesupport。
Havingintroducedhim，however，andbeingallreseated，theterrorsthatoccurredofwhatthisvisitmightleadtowereoverpowering，andshefanciedherselfonthepointoffaintingaway。
Whiletryingtokeepherselfalive，theirvisitor，whohadatfirstapproachedherwithasanimatedacountenanceasever，waswiselyandkindlykeepinghiseyesaway，andgivinghertimetorecover，whilehedevotedhimselfentirelytohermother，addressingher，andattendingtoherwiththeutmostpolitenessandpropriety，atthesametimewithadegreeoffriendliness，ofinterestatleast，whichwasmakinghismannerperfect。
Mrs。Price’smannerswerealsoattheirbest。Warmedbythesightofsuchafriendtoherson，andregulatedbythewishofappearingtoadvantagebeforehim，shewasoverflowingwithgratitude——artless，maternalgratitude——
whichcouldnotbeunpleasing。Mr。Pricewasout，whichsheregrettedverymuch。Fannywasjustrecoveredenoughtofeelthat_she_couldnotregretit；fortohermanyothersourcesofuneasinesswasaddedthesevereoneofshameforthehomeinwhichhefoundher。
Shemightscoldherselffortheweakness，buttherewasnoscoldingitaway。Shewasashamed，andshewouldhavebeenyetmoreashamedofherfatherthanofalltherest。
TheytalkedofWilliam，asubjectonwhichMrs。Pricecouldnevertire；andMr。Crawfordwasaswarminhiscommendationasevenherheartcouldwish。Shefeltthatshehadneverseensoagreeableamaninherlife；
andwasonlyastonishedtofindthat，sogreatandsoagreeableashewas，heshouldbecomedowntoPortsmouthneitheronavisittotheport-admiral，northecommissioner，noryetwiththeintentionofgoingovertotheisland，norofseeingthedockyard。Nothingofallthatshehadbeenusedtothinkofastheproofofimportance，ortheemploymentofwealth，hadbroughthimtoPortsmouth。
Hehadreacheditlatethenightbefore，wascomeforadayortwo，wasstayingattheCrown，hadaccidentallymetwithanavyofficerortwoofhisacquaintancesincehisarrival，buthadnoobjectofthatkindincoming。
Bythetimehehadgivenallthisinformation，itwasnotunreasonabletosupposethatFannymightbelookedatandspokento；andshewastolerablyabletobearhiseye，andhearthathehadspenthalfanhourwithhissistertheeveningbeforehisleavingLondon；thatshehadsentherbestandkindestlove，buthadhadnotimeforwriting；
thathethoughthimselfluckyinseeingMaryforevenhalfanhour，havingspentscarcelytwenty-fourhoursinLondon，afterhisreturnfromNorfolk，beforehesetoffagain；
thathercousinEdmundwasintown，hadbeenintown，heunderstood，afewdays；thathehadnotseenhimhimself，butthathewaswell，hadleftthemallwellatMansfield，andwastodine，asyesterday，withtheFrasers。
Fannylistenedcollectedly，eventothelast-mentionedcircumstance；nay，itseemedarelieftoherwornmindtobeatanycertainty；andthewords，“thenbythistimeitisallsettled，“passedinternally，withoutmoreevidenceofemotionthanafaintblushAftertalkingalittlemoreaboutMansfield，asubjectinwhichherinterestwasmostapparent，Crawfordbegantohintattheexpediencyofanearlywalk。“Itwasalovelymorning，andatthatseasonoftheyearafinemorningsooftenturnedoff，thatitwaswisestforeverybodynottodelaytheirexercise“；andsuchhintsproducingnothing，hesoonproceededtoapositiverecommendationtoMrs。Priceandherdaughterstotaketheirwalkwithoutlossoftime。