ren’s Reviews > Persuasion > Status Update

"And what was it to her if Frederick Wentworth were only half a mile distant, making himself agreeable to others?
She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting. Perhaps indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances. He must be either indifferent or unwilling. Had he wished ever to see her again, he need not have waited till this time."

"She had ere long the pleasure of seeing them set off together in high spirits. They were gone, she hoped, the be happy, however oddly constructed such happiness might seem; as for herself, she was left with as many sensations of comfort, as were, perhaps, ever likely to be hers. She knew herself to be of the first utility to the child;"

"Anne was now at hand to take up her own cause, and the sincerity of her manner being soon sufficient to convince him, he had no farther scruples as to her being left to dine alone, though he still wanted her to join them in the evening, when the child might be at rest for the night, and kindly urged her to let him come and fetch her, but she was quite unpersuadable;"

"'I mean to go with you, Charles, for so am of no more use at home than you are. Anne will stay; Anne understands to stay at home and take care of him. It is Anne's own proposal, and so I shall go with you, which will be a great deal better.'
'This is very kind of Anne, and I should be very glad to have you to; but it seems rather hard that she should be left at home by herself, to nurse our sick child.'"

"'Oh! I shall certainly go; for they want me excessively to be acquainted with Captain Wentworth, and I know you do not mind being left alone. An excellent thought of yours, indeed, Annr. I will go and tell Charles, and get ready directly. You can send for us, you know, at a moment's notice, if anything is the matter; but I dare say there will be nothing to alarm you.'"

"'Well, if you do not think it too late to give notice for yourself, suppose you were to go, as well as your husband. Leave little Charles to my care.'
'Are you serious?' cried Mary, her eyes brightening. 'I may just as well go as not, for I am of no use at home--am I? and it only harasses me. You, who have not a mother's feelings, are a great deal the properest person. You can make little Charles do anything.'"

"'But, could you be comfortable yourself, to be spending the whole evening away from the poor boy?'
'Yes; you see his papa can, and why should not I? Jemima is so careful; and she could send us word every hour how he was. I really think Charles might as well have told his father we would all come. I am not more alarmed about little Charles now than he is.'"

"'I hope I am as fond of my child as any mother, but I do not know that I am of any more use in the sick-room than Charles, for I cannot be always scolding and teazing the poor child when it is ill; and you saw, this morning, that if I told him to keep quiet, he was sure to begin kicking about. I have not nerves for the sort of thing.'"

don't have a child if you can't nurture and take care of them @both parents

"'You will not be hysterical again. I dare say we shall have nothing to distress us. I perfectly understand Mr Robinson's directions, and have no fears; and indeed, Mary, I cannot wonder at your husband. Nursing does not belong to a man; it is not his providence. A sick child is always the mother's property: her own feelings generally make it so.'"

"So here he is to go away and enjoy himself, and because I am the poor mother, I am not to be allowed to stir; and yet, I am sure, I am more unfit than anybody else to be about the child. My being the mother is the very reason why my feelings should not be tried. I am not at all equal to it. You saw how hysterical I was yesterday."

not something to be proud of jfc