 house had been cleared of every object
enforcing the remembrance, and restored to its proper state. He did not enter
into any remonstrance with his other children: he was more willing to believe
they felt their error, than to run the risk of investigation. The reproof of an
immediate conclusion of every thing, the sweep of every preparation would be
sufficient.
    There was one person, however, in the house whom he could not leave to learn
his sentiments merely through his conduct. He could not help giving Mrs. Norris
a hint of his having hoped, that her advice might have been interposed to
prevent what her judgment must certainly have disapproved. The young people had
been very inconsiderate in forming the plan; they ought to have been capable of
a better decision themselves; but they were young, and, excepting Edmund, he
believed of unsteady characters; and with greater surprize therefore he must
regard her acquiescence in their wrong measures, her countenance of their unsafe
amusements, than that such measures and such amusements should have been
suggested. Mrs. Norris was a little confounded, and as nearly being silenced as
ever she had been in her life; for she was ashamed to confess having never seen
any of the impropriety which was so glaring to Sir Thomas, and would not have
admitted that her influence was insufficient, that she might have talked in
vain. Her only resource was to get out of the subject as fast as possible, and
turn the current of Sir Thomas's ideas into a happier channel. She had a great
deal to insinuate in her own praise as to general attention to the interest and
comfort of his family, much exertion and many sacrifices to glance at in the
form of hurried walks and sudden removals from her own fire-side, and many
excellent hints of distrust and economy to Lady Bertram and Edmund to detail,
whereby a most considerable saving had always arisen, and more than one bad
servant been detected. But her chief strength lay in Sotherton. Her greatest
support and glory was in having formed the connection with the Rushworths. There
she was impregnable. She took to herself all the credit of bringing Mr.
Rushworth's admiration of Maria to any effect. »If I had not been active,« said
she, »and made a point of being introduced to his mother, and then prevailed on
my sister to pay the first visit, I am as certain as I sit here, that nothing
would have come of it - for Mr. Rushworth is the sort of amiable modest young
man who wants a great deal of encouragement, and there were girls enough on
