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。