The Annotated Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Author:Jane Austen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2017-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

Cavendish Square, very close to the Rushworths’ house on Wimpole Street.

[From The Repository of arts, literature, fashions, manufactures, &c, Vol. IX (1813), p. 178]

Her influence, or at least the consciousness and use of it, originated in an act of kindness by25 Susan, which after many hesitations of delicacy, she at last worked herself up to. It had very early occurred to her, that a small sum of money might, perhaps, restore peace for ever on the sore subject of the silver knife, canvassed26 as it now was continually, and the riches which she was in possession of herself, her uncle having given her 10l. at parting, made her as able as she was willing to be generous. But she was so wholly unused to confer favours, except on the very poor, so unpractised in removing evils, or bestowing kindnesses among her equals, and so fearful of appearing to elevate herself as a great lady at home, that it took some time to determine that it would not be unbecoming in her to make such a present. It was made, however, at last; a silver knife was bought for Betsey, and accepted with great delight, its newness giving it every advantage over the other that could be desired; Susan was established in the full possession of her own. Betsey handsomely declaring that now she had got one so much prettier herself, she should never want that again—and no reproach seemed conveyed to the equally satisfied mother, which Fanny had almost feared to be impossible. The deed thoroughly answered,27 a source of domestic altercation was entirely done away, and it was the means of opening Susan’s heart to her, and giving her something more to love and be interested in. Susan shewed that she had delicacy;28 pleased as she was to be mistress of property which she had been struggling for at least two years, she yet feared that her sister’s judgment had been against her, and that a reproof was designed her for having so struggled as to make the purchase necessary for the tranquillity of the house.

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