Chapter 3 Summary

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Fanny is now fifteen years old, and upon the death of Mrs. Norris's husband, Sir Thomas suggests that Fanny should go live with the widow. Sir Thomas thinks that Fanny's presence in his sister-in-law's life would bring the older woman pleasure. Sir Thomas is also going through difficult financial times. So by Fanny's going to live with Mrs. Norris, Sir Thomas's financial burdens would be slightly eased.

Tom, the older Bertram brother, has proven to be a reckless young man. In the process, Tom has squandered much of the Bertram estate, creating massive debts that he expects his father to pay off. Because of this, Tom has also made it financially impossible for Edmund to take over Mrs. Norris's husband's role as parish clergyman. This should have been a natural progression upon Mr. Norris's death. However, Sir Thomas could not afford to give Edmund the post. He needed someone else to move in and pay rent.

Dr. Grant and his wife take over the rectory. After they are settled, Mrs. Norris investigates the new clergyman and does not approve of his lifestyle. Dr. Grant, according to Mrs. Norris, eats too much and too lavishly. Mrs. Norris believes that a clergyman should demonstrate more restraint. However, this is not the only thing that Mrs. Norris complains about.

Fanny overhears a conversation between Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram. She learns that Sir Thomas plans to send her to Mrs. Norris's house to live. This displeases Fanny. She turns to Edmund to discuss her disappointment in having to leave. Edmund, as usual, comforts and encourages Fanny. He tells her that if she lives with Mrs. Norris, she will enjoy the older woman's complete attention. There at the Bertrams' house, in comparison, Fanny is merely one of five children. With Mrs. Norris, she will be able to become more refined, as Mrs. Norris will be more directly involved in Fanny's life.

Fanny has difficulty accepting what Edmund tells her. Fanny has not had a very good relationship with Mrs. Norris, who has, over the years, made Fanny feel how inferior she is in comparison to the Bertrams. Fanny cannot imagine how that would change for the better if she were forced to live at Mrs. Norris's house. Edmund suggests that Fanny have faith in his assessment of the situation.

However, when Lady Bertram tells her sister that Sir Thomas had mentioned that she take Fanny to her house to live, Mrs. Norris immediately reacts negatively. It becomes obvious that Mrs. Norris has no intentions of living with Fanny. Her new house is too small. It has only one spare room and that is to be saved in case she has friends who come to visit. Besides, she does not have enough money to waste on a young girl. She wonders how Sir Thomas ever came to the conclusion that sending Fanny to her would amount to any good.

Fanny is relieved when she learns that she can stay at the Bertrams' house. Her emotions change, though, when it is announced that Sir Thomas must leave for his property on Antigua, an island in the Caribbean. He is taking Tom with him, and they might be gone as long as a year. It is not that Fanny is sad that Sir Thomas is leaving but rather that she is distressed because she does not feel anything for the man who has provided her with a home. She will not miss him.

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