Thanks for reading and reviewing. i had alot of school work so i could not write. Sorry of the delay! Please keep reading cuase i will update more frequently over the summer. KEEP reviewing because it makes me a better writer!...i hope!

IT had been two week since her arrival back at Mansfield and every thing seemed to have returned to the way it was before. Well not entirely. Aunt Norris for example was not nearly as awful as before. In fact the woman seemed defeated. Out of everyone in the family she seemed to have taken the news of Marias indiscretions the hardest. Although she didn't mope about, but there was always some acid edge lacking when she looked at people or gave orders to the servants. Most people did not notice it as much as fanny did. Even though fanny could not claim that she had enjoyed her aunt's vile behavior, she had to admit that it was a bit odd when the very thing she expected to happen did not transpire at all. As a result of the abatement of Aunt Norris's hatred of fanny, the young girl found herself with a lot of time at her disposal. Fanny spent her time divided mostly between keeping lady Bertram company and sitting with her ailing cousin. While the former could be extremely trying mentally, the latter was an oddly interesting experience. It seemed as though the only person she ever had an actual conversation with these days was Tom. She had not since there carriage ride home spoken at length to Edmund. He seemed to be always busy with his preparations for the ministry or alone somewhere doubtless thinking about his beloved Mary.

Over the years Fanny had come to view Tom as a delinquent, ungrateful leech whose sole purpose in life was to be self destructive. But the time which she spent by his sick bed had forced Fanny reevaluate her opinions and to truly appreciate his humanity, his intelligence and his sincere affection for his family, including herself. Fanny's capacity for amending misapprehensions was not limited to Tom alone. The time she spent nursing him caused her to increase her association with her other Cousin Julia. Although they had never been on the point of estrangement, it had been largely apparent to anyone who was minimally observant that the cousins lacked a common bond. Julia and her sister had grown up assuming a position of superiority, they had never been taught or expected to love and respect their relations. In fact the only relatives they had associated closely with were Aunt Norris and Frances. The former was regarded by the sisters as a silly old woman and the latter as mindless tool to be used for their pleasure. Although Julia was not essentially heartless, she did on the other hand posses a weakness of character which disposed her to bee influenced by her sister. Julia had always gone alone with anything her older sister did. If Maria was cruel to the cook, then so was Julia, if Maria decided that she would sass her mother then consequently Julia would do so as well. But once out of her sibling's sphere of influence, Julia had a chance to realize the ill that she had committed against others. As a result she whole heartedly made a resolution to make amends for her actions. The whole house hold was quite taken aback by the sudden change in the girl's comportment. There were many questions and speculations but none could truly account for it.

As Julia improved it seemed that her tie to Aunt Norris, be it thin, seemed to wane. Where before they would have been close allies, now they were mere acquaintances. The Julia of old would have shared her dilemmas with her aunt and sought her council but now their conversation was limited to the weather and other trivialities.

Although fanny had mildly notice the change in her cousin she had not placed much though upon the subject. Consequently it came as a shock to Fanny when on a warm Tuesday morning, Julia asked her in the most humble and solicitous tone to accompany her on her walk. All fanny could do was to mumble her consent and hurriedly collect her wrap and hat.



As they walked together silently, fanny searched her mind for any reason for which her cousin would want to have a private conversation with her. Since she had returned they had not exchange above a hundred words. They only times fanny could recall ever speaking with Julia were by Toms sick bed and perhaps a few times in the dinning hall or the drawing room.

Not knowing Julia's motives threw fanny off so much that she started to complain inwardly about her nerves. Hold yourself together she chided. Perhaps she was spending too much time with lady Bertram, she thought.

"Don't you think that the sky is especially lovely today Fanny?" Julia asked suddenly.

A bit confused by the situation as a whole, Fanny fumbled for a response. " Uhm of course, I mean yes it is."

After a moments silence Julia continued. "Fanny when was the last time we talked like this?"

Talked? Fanny thought. They had barely exchanged two sentences! The sad part was that she could not recall any time since childhood when they had "talked".

"I well… I-"

"I know you are too honest to pretend". A shy smile appeared on Julia's face as she continued. "Fanny before you says any thing I would like to tell you that I am earnestly happy that you are home."

"Thank you Julia" Fanny answered, touched by the sincerity in her voice.

"Fanny, I realize that you and I are not as close as we should be. I recognized that it unfortunately is my fault. As long as you have lived here I have been nothing but awful to you. I never treated you with the remotest amount of respect or love that you were due. And being the good hearted creature that you are, you have born all of my assaults and insults. I am overwhelmingly ashamed of my actions against you but I accept that it is quite too late to expect any reversal of the situation. I fear that the damage is already too deep. All I can hope for at this point is you forgiveness cousin. Please!" She implored.

Fanny was at a loss for words. She looked blankly at Julia. There were tears in her eyes. Fanny was so overcome by emotion that without ever thinking she threw her arms around Julia in a warm confronting embrace. She had never hated Julia or Maria. She never liked how they treated her but as hard as she might have tried she could not hold a bitter grudge against them for all eternity. Hearing Julia's apology had caused her to look within her self. Julia was so guilt ridden that her words melted away any long standing shred of hatred that was in fanny's heart.

She had never imagined it but now that she was in this moment she was so happy it felt vaguely like they were sisters.



After their reconciliatory walk, Fanny and Julia became fast friends. The two found that they had more in common with each other than they had previously assumed. They took walks together and talked about literature and art and politics. Fanny learned that her cousin was not simply concerned with fashion and society. Julia was actually a very intelligent and loving girl.

It happened that one afternoon while the two were heatedly discussing the merits of book they had recently read; that the butler had came in and announced the arrival of a guest.

"A mister Charles Hindly is in the foyer wishing to speak with the lady of the house" the butler announced.

"Oh send him in please James." Julia answered.

Fanny was a bit surprised for this was the first time she had heard of any one named Charles Hindly. The fact that her cousin had agreed to admit the man with out any apprehension bespoke of a familiarity between acquaintances. But before Fanny had the chance to question Julia on the matter, the object of her contemplation walk tentatively through the door.

The man was tall to say the least. In fanny's estimation he had to be about 6'2. As he approached, Fanny noticed that he had curly blonde hair and sharply blue eyes. His slightly tan skin and simple clothing hinted at his being a man of the outdoors. A gentleman farmer perhaps.

"It is nice to see you Mr. Hindly, but I am afraid that my mother is not in at this very moment." Julia said

"Oh I'm sad to hear it. " He said tentatively. "I just came by to inquire after Tom." Looking at fanny he added "I am truly sorry for my intrusion. I-"

"OH no you need not worry. You are always welcome in our home Mr. Hindly."

"Thank you Miss Bertram. I wish that you could c call me Charles, I always feel as old as my farther when people use my surname."

As for his age he didn't look to be more than seven and twenty. Fanny's interest was piqued by this exchange. It all seemed innocent but there was something else there that did not sit well with her.

Julia slapped her forehead, when she finally realized that she had neglected to introduce fanny. "Mr. Hindly, this is Fanny price my beloved cousin." Taking Fanny's arm she continued. "Fanny this is Mr. Hindly. He is one of our neighbors, but most importantly he was the man who found Tom and brought him home."

"Oh it is nice to meet you sir. Thank you for bringing Tom back to us."

"It is nice to meet you as well Miss Price. And you are welcome although it was nothing of consequence for I did what any one would have."

There was an awkward silence in the room for half a minute. Fanny was looking out the window, while Julia and Mr. Hindly were both stealing glances at each other.



"Have you been reading Foresters latest novel?" Charles asked pointing at the book which la on the table.

"Yes" both girls spoke at the same time. Charles Chuckled a bit.

"It seems as though you both might be of service to me then. My brother and I have both read the novel. He tells me that it is a scathing satire against women and thinks that no woman could like it. I on the other hand don't personally like the book but I believe that it is not all targeted at the fairer sex. See as you are both woman I would like to have you opinions on the matter."

"We were just in the throws of discussing a similar matter. I am of the opinion that Foresters heart has been turned against women in general because of his unfortunate first marriage. After his unpleasant experience, it seem as though all the man can write are tales which chronically the fickleness of a woman's heart. Men are portrayed as infinitely superior in every respect while women are foolish and inconstant!" Julia exclaimed

"When was forester ever married? He is relatively new and I had no idea that he had been married." Charles asked

"Well it is not exactly a matter of fact that he was indeed married but I personally believe that he must have been for there is no other reason for him to write so. You might be of the same mind as fanny and laugh at such an assertion but I adamantly believe that it is true"

"Dear Julia I never laughed, I simply do not think that he was married. The protagonist t in his story is a female. If he hated women why would he focus a whole book on them? Why not write about man?" Fanny countered.

"That is the very point which I made to my brother miss price!" Charlse said excitedly.

"He used a woman in order to better berate us and speak on our flaws!" Julia insisted

"But isn't that the objective of almost every work of fiction? To illuminate the virtues and more importantly the vices of humanity was foresters only goal. He used a woman and had her act in the same way a man would because many people believe that women are impervious to certain types of behaviors. In truth men and women are equally capable of hurting each other." Fanny said solemnly.

She had never connected forester's book to her self personally, but now after hearing her own words fanny was touch but their pertinence to her current state. She had never admitted it to her self consciously but the truth was that she, Fanny Price, was personally responsible for tearing a hole into someone heart.

This realization silenced Fanny for the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately her two companions were completely oblivious to her change of demeanor. Julia and Charles continued to chat animatedly on the merits of the novel and various subject. By the end of the day Charles made his goodbyes to them and promised to pay Tom a visit some.

AN/ Keep reviewing!!Do not fear if anyone here is a liason fan or knows what i mean, i have to say that fanny& henry will not drag on endless like liz and jason.(GH)