Chapter 36 (Reverse V) Now let's see...
Now it all depends on when Edmund proposes to Fanny. Fanny is certainly willing from the bottom of her heart, and even Sir Thomas, who might have been an obstacle, is happy to see it happen.
On that very day, before all the summer roses had faded, the asters in the garden, like messengers of autumn, had already draped the earth in a splendid purple veil, weaving a beautiful picture together with the other plants in the garden.
Mary and Susan saw Fanny walk shyly into the living room, Edmund holding her arm, his joy evident in his eyes; what had happened was self-evident.
Mrs. Bertram was still confused: "Oh, Edmund, Fanny, you're back from outside. I was looking for Fanny!"
Fanny went over to ask her aunt if she needed anything, and Edmund gave her a tender look before striding to his father, Sir Thomas's, study to tell him the good news.
Sir Thomas had been waiting for this. He had harbored similar concerns when he adopted the girl, but after the experiences with his two daughters, he finally realized that marriage shouldn't be based solely on wealth; good character was far more important than money. However, when Sir Thomas announced Edmund and Fanny's engagement, an unexpected obstacle arose.
“Fanny is marrying Edmund, so she’ll have to move to Thornton Lacey (where Edmund is now the minister), and what will I do all by myself?” Mrs. Bertram exclaimed.
Lady Bertram loved both her son Edmund and Fanny, but their marital bliss prevented her from sacrificing her own interests. Such an important matter was naturally decided by Sir Thomas, but Lady Bertram still felt uneasy.
Sir Thomas tried his best to persuade her, telling her that he and his eldest son Tom were at home. She still felt she had been forced to lose Fanny, and with this sorrow, she went to rest, feeling before falling asleep that she was the most pitiful person in the world. Seeing Fanny's distress over Lady Bertram's worries, Edmund offered his father a suggestion.
The next day, he found Mary and Susan and asked, "Mary, Susan, have you been enjoying your time here? If you'd like, you can stay in Mansfield to be with my mother, just like Fanny did. Mansfield will become your home."
This was a win-win proposal, as it would take care of Mrs. Bertram while also fulfilling Fanny's wish that her sisters could receive a better education and care.
But Mary was not willing. If she were an ordinary 19th-century girl, this suggestion would certainly be good. She would be adopted by a wealthy noble relative, live a life of comfort, and appear in social circles with a higher status.
But Mary was different. She disliked Sir Thomas's discipline and didn't want to be a rose cultivated in the garden of high society; she wanted to be a wildflower growing freely in the wild. Staying in Mansfield would undoubtedly be a form of slow suicide for her. If she had such thoughts, she would have been better off seizing the opportunity her godfather gave her when she was young; at least the general was much more enlightened.
When he saw that his cousin Mary shook her head, Edmund explained to the two of them the benefits of the matter, and told them to go back and think it over carefully, and that he would tell him the answer the next day.
Back in her room, Mary's sketchbook lay on the desk, containing an unfinished sketch of a wedding dress embroidered with the Bertram family crest. Just as Mary was finishing the sketch, Susan suddenly spoke up: "Mary, I'm not going back to Portsmouth. I want to stay in Mansfield with my aunt."
Mary looked up at her sister, Susan. They were twins and had always considered each other their most important other half. Although she had a good time in Mansfield, Mary didn't think Susan would stay like in the original story, because the Price family's situation wasn't as bad as in the original story, and they had a shared business in Portsmouth.
She couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Why, Susan, have you forgotten about our hat business?"
“That’s precisely why I’m staying. Charlotte has helped you a lot while we’ve both been away. I don’t think it will affect the hat business much even if I don’t go back to Portsmouth. Don’t think I don’t know that you’re just giving me a share of the profits to help support my sister.”
Seeing that Mary wanted to explain, Susan waved her hand: "In the first few years, I could help you refine the materials, which could help the business a little. But after the secret of the shell decoration was exposed, I can't help you much anymore. Mary, I can't learn the kind of complicated oriental embroidery you use. The hat business relies almost entirely on your designs, as well as Aunt Taylor's and your craftsmanship."
Charlotte, at least, could occasionally offer some good ideas and spread information among the ladies. What did I do? I just ran errands; any maid could do those things. Aren't you just continuing to pay me so much of my share of the profits to subsidize me, your younger sister?"
Susan had clearly thought these words through for a long time. She paused for a moment before continuing, "Besides that, there's another reason: I like being with Aunt Bertram and don't want to go home and suffer my mother's temper again. In Mansfield, I always get my aunt's approval when I do things for her, and even if I don't do something perfectly, she never scolds me. But in Portsmouth, how many times has my mother accused me without any basis!"
Susan spoke with obvious resentment. Parents always assume they receive unconditional love and respect from their children, which is clearly impossible. The Price couple are irresponsible and biased in their treatment of their children; it's no wonder their children love them! However, the couple probably doesn't care about this; Susan staying in Mansfield is something they'd much rather for them.
“I’m sorry, Susan. I know Mom’s attitude towards you has been a bit harsh, and I can’t persuade you not to take it to heart. Perhaps I’ve been ignoring your feelings. As long as you’re happy, I don’t mind if you choose to stay.”
Mary hugged her twin sister. Given that Mrs. Price treated her better than Susan, she couldn't offer much advice, nor could she boast about the future success of her business—a success she desired, not Susan's. She finally asked, "Susan, are you sure you've really thought this through?"
“Yes, I’ve made up my mind.” Susan’s eyes sparkled as she said this, feeling that her worth had been realized in Mansfield. She hugged her dear sister back. “I’m sorry, Mary, I can’t come back to Portsmouth with you. I said I would always be with you. You still love me, don’t you?”
“Of course, Susan, if you ever have a bad time here, just give me a letter and I’ll come and get you back.” After fourteen years together, Mary was also very sad to be separated from her, but she believed that the distance would not affect the bond between the sisters.
Edmund was somewhat surprised to learn of the sisters' different choices. He had thought that his cousin Mary would change her mind after a day of thinking and would not choose to separate from his cousin Susan, but she insisted on going back.
Sir Thomas was also puzzled when he learned of this. He couldn't see what benefit staying in Portsmouth would bring to a fourteen-year-old girl; they had suffered quite a bit at the Price family's. There was only one explanation for the current situation: unlike the docile Fanny, his niece Mary was indeed somewhat eccentric. When Mrs. Norris was still alive, Mary had even dared to mock her!
He had always hoped that all young women would look up to Fanny as a role model, and after the events involving his two daughters, he was even less appreciative of a girl with such a strong personality as Mary, so he did not exercise his parental authority to keep her.
If Mary knew what the Sir Thomas was thinking, she would be glad that the conservative and autocratic Sir Thomas was not like her godfather, General Maxwell, and would not tolerate her "random" ideas.
For his two cousins, Maria and Julia, having a father with such a personality, it's no wonder they dared not confide their innermost thoughts to Sir Thomas; isn't that also a form of irresponsibility? Sir Thomas's self-reflection is far too superficial.
Upon learning that Susan would be staying in Mansfield, Mrs. Bertram could no longer do without Fanny. Compared to Fanny, Susan was naturally more proactive and loved to give orders, which perfectly complemented her aunt's laid-back nature. Mrs. Bertram grew increasingly fond of Susan, while Fanny transformed from a niece into her and the Duke's most beloved daughter-in-law.
Now, the only thing that left Mrs. Bertram with regret was Mary. The lady actually valued Mary highly, not for any other reason than that Mary was an undeniably beautiful woman. Fanny and Susan were certainly pretty too, but Mary was as beautiful as she had been in her youth. What a huge waste it was that this niece, who perfectly embodied their family's beautiful lineage, didn't want to stay in Mansfield!
“Oh, Mary, why don’t you stay? When you turn eighteen, I’ll have the jazz throw you a grand ball, just like Fanny did. Fanny, do you remember that ball?”
Now, Fanny no longer feels upset when the ball is mentioned. She answers cheerfully, "I remember, I danced with Edmund."
“That’s right, I even had Mrs. Chapman help Fanny with her dressing up! Mary, I couldn’t help you in Portsmouth.” Considering Aunt Bertram’s usual personality, these words truly reflected her deep affection for Mary.
Mary thanked her aunt for her kindness again and again, and then said, "Aunt, but I have already made an appointment with Richard. He will come to Mansfield to pick me up when he returns from India."
Although Richard missed his sister Fanny's wedding, which he hadn't seen for many years, William happened to return to the country and made it to Fanny's wedding.
William was both shocked and saddened by what had happened to his former friend, Mr. Crawford. Fortunately, Fanny was unharmed. William sincerely blessed his sister's marriage to his cousin Edmund. Unfortunately, he had to leave after attending Fanny's wedding; he had taken leave specifically to come to Mansfield.
Fanny's dress that day was a newly designed piece by Mary. It didn't need too many fancy patterns; the embroidered emblems on the hem alone made the dress unique. The blessings from her beloved family members at the wedding made the ceremony perfect.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
