Of things subsequent to the time of her entrance into her present home, but little was said.

There was an instinctive delicacy on the part of Claire and his wife, now that Fanny was about coming into the possession of property, which kept back all allusion to the sacrifices they had made, and the pain they had suffered on her account, in their contentions with her guardian.
In fact, this matter of property produced with them a feeling of embarrassment.

They had no mercenary thoughts in regard to it--had no wish to profit by their intimate and peculiar relation.

And yet, restricted in their own income, and with a family growing daily more expensive, they understood but too well the embarrassment which would follow, if any very important change were made in their present external relations.

To explain every thing to Fanny, would, they knew, lead to an instant tender of all she possessed.