 other, their mutual attachment became very strong.
After settling her at Thornton Lacey with every kind attention to her comfort,
the object of almost every day was to see her there, or to get her away from it.
    Selfishly dear as she had long been to Lady Bertram, she could not be parted
with willingly by her. No happiness of son or niece could make her wish the
marriage. But it was possible to part with her, because Susan remained to supply
her place. - Susan became the stationary niece - delighted to be so! - and
equally well adapted for it by a readiness of 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 every thing 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 or 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
