Mansfield Park
mind, and an inclination for usefulness, as Fanny had been by sweetness
of temper, and strong feelings of gratitude. Susan could never be
spared. First as a comfort to Fanny, then as an auxiliary, and last as
her substitute, she was established at Mansfield, with every appearance
of equal permanency. Her more fearless disposition and happier nerves
made everything easy to her there. With quickness in understanding the
tempers of those she had to deal with, and no natural timidity to
restrain any consequent wishes, she was soon welcome and useful to all;
and after Fanny’s removal succeeded so naturally to her influence over
the hourly comfort of her aunt, as gradually to become, perhaps, the
most beloved of the two. In _her_ usefulness, in Fanny’s excellence, in
William’s continued good conduct and rising fame, and in the general
well-doing and success of the other members of the family, all
assisting to advance each other, and doing credit to his countenance
and aid, Sir Thomas saw repeated, and for ever repeated, reason to
rejoice in what he had done for them all, and acknowledge the
advantages of early hardship and discipline, and the consciousness of
being born to struggle and endure.
With so much true merit and true love, and no want of fortune and
friends, the happiness of the married cousins must appear as secure as
earthly happiness can be. Equally formed for domestic life, and
attached to country pleasures, their home was the home of affection and
comfort; and to complete the picture of good, the acquisition of
Mansfield living, by the death of Dr. Grant, occurred just after they
had been married long enough to begin to want an increase of income,
and feel their distance from the paternal abode an inconvenience.
On that event they removed to Mansfield; and the Parsonage there,
which, under each of its two former owners, Fanny had never been able
to approach but with some painful sensation of restraint or alarm, soon
grew as dear to her heart, and as thoroughly perfect in her eyes, as
everything else within the view and patronage of Mansfield Park had
long been.
FINIS.