When he had really resolved on any measure, he could always carry it through; and now by dint of long talking on the subject, explaining and dwelling on the duty of Fanny's sometimes seeing her family, he did induce his wife to let her go; obtaining it rather from submission, however, than conviction, for Lady Bertram was convinced of very little more than that Sir Thomas thought Fanny ought to go, and therefore that she must.

In the calmness of her own dressing-room, in the impartial flow of her own meditations, unbiassed by his bewildering statements, she could not acknowledge any necessity for Fanny's ever going near a father and mother who had done without her so long, while she was so useful to herself.

And as to the not missing her, which under Mrs.Norris's discussion was the point attempted to be proved, she set herself very steadily against admitting any such thing.
Sir Thomas had appealed to her reason, conscience, and dignity.

He called it a sacrifice, and demanded it of her goodness and self-command as such.

But Mrs.Norris wanted to persuade her that Fanny could be very well spared--_she_ being ready to give up all her own time to her as requested--and, in short, could not really be wanted or missed.
"That may be, sister," was all Lady Bertram's reply.