Her Dear Pug
Susan Price, upon finding her aunt, Lady Bertram asleep after dinner, decided to retire to her own room. It was that place Susan could feel entirely at peace, surrounded by the memories of her life since coming to Mansfield Park. She passed by the East room, thinking for a moment of her sister, Fanny, now at Thornton Lacey, and opened her own door, to a chamber that had once been Julia’s. She walked by her precious things, her silver knife, which Fanny had secured to her possession, her small collection of books, and dried flowers that she collected from each beautiful season at the park. Susan sat down at her small writing table by the fire, preparing to send a letter of obligation to her mother, who rarely wrote back. There was no one else at home, Tom was recently married and he had decided, to the chagrin of his father, to settle in town.
There was a knock at the door and Susan called to admit whomever it was. To her surprise, her uncle appeared, “Susan, I need you to come with me to Thornton Lacey, if we go now we will be back before nightfall.”
“Of course, but are we not seeing Edmund and Fanny in two days?” said she.
“Yes, but did not you notice Susan? Pug has died! If we wish to escape the distress of your aunt, we must act with haste.”
Susan remained confused, but she followed her uncle readily out of her chamber and to the carriage. It was not overly far and since it was early summer, they had several hours left of light. They set off with all haste towards the Thornton Lacey parsonage.
Susan could see that her uncle had something to say to her, but she could not imagine what. There was a very small, but persistent worry in the back of her mind that one day they would send her home. It had been a random impulse, a decision made in deep distress that had brought her to Mansfield Park, to her infinite delight. She believed herself to now be indispensable to her Aunt Bertram, but no one had ever spoken in plain words about her position within the household. She feared that one day a letter would arrive to send her home or her uncle would decide that she was no longer required. It was a circumstance that she dreaded.
“Susan, you have been a-” Sir Thomas stopped and began again, “now that our children have left home, your aunt Bertram has become so reliant on your company. I have reflected that in our care of your sister, we never established our obligations to her in any formal way. I have grown to regret this. I- we have decided that now that you are nineteen, you can make the choice for yourself.”
“The choice to stay at Mansfield Park? I never wish to leave!” Susan replied eagerly.
“Your aunt and I, we are pleased to have you stay as long as you wish, but since we have brought you here, made you accustomed to this way of life, we thought it right to settle something on you for the future. You are to have 3,000 pounds.”
Susan looked at him with such amazement and joy that Sir Thomas continued, having decided that she did not understand the gift entirely, “You will receive the income from now on, to dispose of as you wish. If you are prudent, you might set some aside for your future. I feel certain that your cousin Tom will do what he ought when he takes Mansfield, but if you are in need, you may set up a small cottage in the village or, if you wish, seek a husband.”
Susan knew her uncle was not adept at showing affection and that the effusive thanks that she wished to pay would not be well received, so she merely said, “You are very good to me sir, I am eternally grateful for the kindness you have bestowed.”
This was acceptable to Sir Thomas and they sat for some time in silence. Susan could think of nothing else but her uncle’s words. She would have an income of 150 pounds per annum! She had resolved immediately to save a small amount for her youngest sister Betsy. With her parents always in need, they would not be saving for her future. She would speak to Fanny; her sister would know the most proper thing to do.
Upon their arrival to Thornton Lacey; Edmund and Fanny were surprised and pleased to receive them. Sir Thomas was direct in his intent and they were taken behind the house to a small shed. Susan was surprised to find several grown pugs and puppies.
“There have been four Pugs,” Sir Thomas explained, “And the death of the first two was very hard on Lady Bertram, she was in despair for days. When Pug the Third passed, I was able to find a new one before Lady Bertram discovered it. Fanny agreed to keep Pug’s children, for this very day. You have spent the most time with Pug, can you tell which is the most like?”
Susan studied the grown dogs carefully, until she found a female with the same tawny coat and black nose as her aunt’s very dear Pug. She picked it up and observing that it did not struggle overly much, hoped it would have the obliging nature that any pet of Lady Bertram must possess. Sir Thomas was satisfied and, with Susan carrying the dog, they headed back towards the house.
“She is but one year old,” Fanny told Sir Thomas, “Lady Bertram can enjoy her for many years.” When Sir Thomas thanked her, she continued, “We have found great interest in the puppies among the families of the county. It is no inconvenience to us.”
As they waited for the horses to rest, Sir Thomas spoke to Edmund and Susan to Fanny. Susan was bursting with the excitement of good news; but she found that Fanny had had a hand in it.
“Sir Thomas had told me of it,” Fanny smiled, “I have offered to accompany you to balls, if you wish to go out. I did not have enough opportunities for dancing when I was young.”
“I am not yet certain,” Susan said, “Lady Bertram relies on me, how could I leave her ? If I was to marry.”
“I will always be here,” Fanny offered.
“You have your own home now and a son. A Mrs. Bertram eight miles away at Thornton Lacey is not the same as a Fanny Price at Mansfield Park.”
“You are right, of course. Sir Thomas has given you the choice, you must find your own path. It was a very good thing our uncle has done; you have been a caring companion for our aunt, with no expectation of reward.”
Susan, who held her gentle sister in the highest regard, was flattered by the compliment. Sir Thomas was eager to be on their way; Susan held the wriggling dog until they were back at Mansfield. The old Pug was gone, Susan laid Pug the Fourth on her aunt’s sofa, at her feet. The tired dog snuggled against Lady Bertram and likewise fell asleep. Susan smiled, she would leave it to her uncle to ensure that Lady Bertram was eventually removed to her chamber. Susan felt quite resolved that evening, she could not leave her aunt.
It was only three months later that Dr. Grant died suddenly, Mrs. Bertram of Thornton Lacey was now in the Mansfield parsonage, only a short walk away. While Edmund remained devoted to his duties and Fanny to hers, of community and children, both of them spent a good deal of their time attending to the needs of their parents. Susan was still appreciated, still had good employment, but she was not “required.” Susan Price had a choice.