 spent so little of his time at home, that he could be
only nominally missed; and Lady Bertram was soon astonished to find how very
well they did even without his father, how well Edmund could supply his place in
carving, talking to the steward, writing to the attorney, settling with the
servants, and equally saving her from all possible fatigue or exertion in every
particular, but that of directing her letters.
    The earliest intelligence of the travellers' safe arrival in Antigua after a
favourable voyage, was received; though not before Mrs. Norris had been
indulging in very dreadful fears, and trying to make Edmund participate them
whenever she could get him alone; and as she depended on being the first person
made acquainted with any fatal catastrophe, she had already arranged the manner
of breaking it to all the others, when Sir Thomas's assurances of their both
being alive and well, made it necessary to lay by her agitation and affectionate
preparatory speeches for a while.
    The winter came and passed without their being called for; the accounts
continued perfectly good; - and Mrs. Norris in promoting gaieties for her
nieces, assisting their toilettes, displaying their accomplishments, and looking
about for their future husbands, had so much to do as, in addition to all her
own household cares, some interference in those of her sister, and Mrs. Grant's
wasteful doings to overlook, left her very little occasion to be occupied even
in fears for the absent.
    The Miss Bertrams were now fully established among the belles of the
neighbourhood; and as they joined to beauty and brilliant acquirements, a manner
naturally easy, and carefully formed to general civility and obligingness, they
possessed its favour as well as its admiration. Their vanity was in such good
order, that they seemed to be quite free from it, and gave themselves no airs;
while the praises attending such behaviour, secured, and brought round by their
aunt, served to strengthen them in believing they had no faults.
    Lady Bertram did not go into public with her daughters. She was too indolent
even to accept a mother's gratification in witnessing their success and
enjoyment at the expense of any personal trouble, and the charge was made over
to her sister, who desired nothing better than a post of such honourable
representation, and very thoroughly relished the means it afforded her of mixing
in society without having horses to hire.
    Fanny had no share in the festivities of the season; but she enjoyed being
avowedly useful as her aunt's companion, when they called away the rest of the
family; and as Miss Lee had left
