(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters and possibly for future chapters.)

R: I was worried about how things would go when Mary Crawford finally gets to have her conversation with Fanny, but it was better than I expected. While she seems to believe her brother’s feelings for Fanny to be sincere, she isn’t too pushy about it, though Fanny feels beleaguered again.

S: That’s interesting! I read it as her still being a little pushy about Mr. Crawford and a bit territorial regarding Edmund. She confuses me, and it makes me wonder if she really sees Fanny. Fanny’s statement to her saying, ‘I was quiet, but I was not blind’ really makes me think that no one actually understands her.

R: The Crawford siblings leave finally, and it seems like life is going back to normal, but Fanny has become convinced, and Edmund seems to confirm, that he will soon be proposing to Mary Crawford. Then William makes another appearance and Sir Thomas has the bright idea of sending Fanny back to her childhood home along with William. Fanny is thrilled. She hasn’t been home since she came away years ago and thinks it will help her be strong when she receives word of Edmond’s engagement. 

I don’t think it’s going to go so well. Her family seemed ready enough to let her go before, and I don’t believe that adding her back into the large family with so much distance in years and upbringing is going to be as joyful as Fanny thinks.

S: Chapter 37 confirms what I thought whilst reading Chapter 36: No one understands Fanny. Sir Thomas thinks that sending her away to her poor family will help her see the benefit of marrying Mr. Crawford, which I understand, but it really drives home the point that Fanny is an enigma to him right now. Still, I do love his and Lady Bertram’s love for Fanny – they want her to be happy and both, in their own way, shut down Mrs. Norris’s rudeness toward her. As I read the conclusion of this chapter, I also had a bad feeling about the visit; she is so excited, but I have a feeling that she is deceiving herself – how easy to do!

I was so touched when I read that William and Fanny are planning on living together because neither thinks they will ever marry – that is so sweet; sad, but sweet. They have such a close relationship. 

R: I agree, this is a precious interlude. I’m so glad that Fanny gets this time alone with William before diving into the chaos that is the Price household. I hate that her joy of being with William is cut short by the early departure of his ship. It adds even more pandemonium than their arrival on its own.

S: I know – I felt so sad for her that William had to leave early! 

I completely understand Fanny’s feeling about receiving letters from Miss Crawford – it’s the not knowing that can drive one batty. 

(Also, the phrase ‘…the dirty month of February’ exactly describes how the month of February feels to me: dark, cold, depressing, slushy – in a word, ‘dirty’.)

When Fanny arrives at her parent’s house she is in major culture shock and it hurts my heart for her, mainly because she is so hurt, so overwhelmed by everything. Mansfield’s world is so large and her family’s world is not. It’s such a sad beginning of a visit! I would feel the same way as she did – hurt at not being treated well, that there is little decorum in the family, but I confess I do not know if I would be nearly as gracious to them as she is.

As I kept reading about her family, the only thought I kept having was, ‘How sad! This is so, so sad.’ Her parents have a really bad relationship, her mother plays favourites with the children, and the children show their parents no respect. The time away from Mansfield Fanny thought would be wonderful and good instead makes her wish for her home all the more. As the old adage says, ‘You don’t appreciate what you have until it’s taken away.’

R: The state of the Price family is much as I expected. Fanny’s modesty and shyness means that her own family runs over her just as much as the Bertrams did. While her mother seems pleased to see Fanny, the rest of the family couldn’t seem to care less. To an extent, I can understand that with the younger children; they were so young when she went away that her return can have little to do with them.

It’s so sweet that William thinks to tell his mother to look out for Fanny right before he leaves, though one would expect that to be a mother’s place already. And Fanny works so hard to not appear to be above the family, though she sees all of their faults. It’s unfortunate that others see her as putting on airs because of her reticence. It’s much the same when non-Christians look at believers and see us as holier-than-thou fun-killers, but our joy in Christ is better than anything the world has to offer.

S: That’s a good comparison.

There are three things I absolutely love in Chapter 40: Firstly, Fanny has found a friend in Susan. Due to Fanny’s way of noticing much, she sees that her younger sister desires to help make the home orderly and disciplined but lacks the knowledge on how to do it. Secondly, Fanny rolls up her sleeves and gets to work, taking control of the finances Sir Thomas gave her, and in a way discipling Susan. Thirdly, stories – Austen makes a wonderful argument of how stories are beautiful and help the mind become calm in the midst of chaos. 

R: I was excited by Chapter 40 as well! It seems to be a bit of a turning point again. While Fanny is anxiously awaiting the news of Edmund and Mary Crawford’s engagement, she manages to find some happiness with her sister Susan. It speaks to being content in one’s circumstances, even if they aren’t the best. I love that the situation gives Fanny the opportunity to stretch herself a little and utilise some creativity to help solve some problems and become a positive influence on at least one of her siblings.

We’re getting close to the end of the novel and I’m excited to see what happens!