Stones Beneath Snow
an excerpt

To my very dear sister-

Oh, Fanny, what a letter this is to be! Who would have considered it likely, less than a year ago, that soon I would be writing to my sister Mrs Edmund Bertram? And yet you deserve to be happy, sister, and I know that you must be, and how could I not be happy for you? If any man on earth could deserve you, I am quite convinced that it must be Edmund. When you and your husband are quite settled and ready to receive visitors, you must write to me, for you are less than twenty minutes away by foot. Tom and I shall be delighted to visit you; that is to say, I shall be delighted, and Tom shall be tolerably willing to humour his little cousin and affect delight. I dare say the parsonage is small compared to Mansfield, but do you know, sister, I cannot think of a place that is not! I recall that Thornton Lacey is a most admirable building, well fitted to become a home, neat and compact, and I am hardly able to contain myself before visiting you. But do let me know, sister; of course I will not intrude before you are ready for me.

Your wedding day is already a week past. I can scarcely believe that my sister is married, who is, after all, only four years my elder. You were a most beautiful bride; even aunt Norris said so, you know, Fanny, so you must know that it is true! She would hardly have paid you any compliment without some significant cause. I hope that I am half so happy on the day of my marriage as you, sister. I cannot do what aunt Norris and aunt Bertram do and refer to you as sister Bertram; that is too cold, it simply will not do. No, Fanny you must remain, to me at least, though I am sure it must be excellent to have a new name, and I am sure that it would be most proper to call you Mrs Bertram in all my correspondence from now on. I cannot do it. It is too alien to me!

The books that your husband (how odd it feels to think of that!) recommended me before your wedding are excellent. He says that they are favourites of yours, Fanny; you have handsome taste, I must say. I had never thought to like poetry before, but this Cowper is marvellous. I know my aunt Bertram thinks me strange; perhaps she attributes it to growing up with the sea air, I do not know, but I do think that she likes me better now than she has before. She is not so very unreasonable, Fanny; I know you allowed her to order you about something dreadful, but without aunt Norris here to bicker and scold, my life is very pleasant. I can walk and run about the park as I please, without fear of chastisement, and I am sure that I become healthier every day as a result.

My cousin Tom and I have become very great friends since my sister and his brother are gone away; he is the only young companion I have here now, and I do feel that he needs livening up, though I cannot say how I hope to achieve this. I am quite sure that all he wants is the right situation; I have taken it upon myself, you know, Fanny, to provide him with amusement as he finishes his convalescence. I know I should find it very tiresome to be cooped up with as little chance for entertainment as he has; I am sure I would lack animation as he does. You shall see a different cousin by-and-by, Fanny, if I have anything to do with it.

Here is a state of affairs; I wrote to you that you might have a formal record of my congratulations, and I have entirely neglected to offer them. I do so now. I have seldom seen people more fitted by their dispositions for a happy marriage than you and my cousin; I offer you all the warmest and most sincere wishes for the future that a sister can. I spoke with Mama before she left, you know, and she too offered you her deepest affections, though how deep Mama's affections can run at all I do not pretend to say. She is certainly glad to have such a noble son-in-law. I do not blame her; I am so pleased to call Edmund brother. Please send him my love, Fanny, or whatever you think it is proper that I send.

I must cut off my letter here, my dear sister, but know that I shall see you as soon as I properly may, and that I am so happy for you, as must see your sister an ecstatic young lady indeed!

--Susan Price