I read it that La Norris was either too old to bear children when she married (her own bio clock) or she did not bear then in some passive aggressive selfish gesture of control because she did not like her older husband. There may not have been much romance there either. The texts stated that La Norris was obliged to married the Rev Norris. It also infers that the Rev was of gouty concerns. This shows me his greater age as well as his probable tendency to overeat and may be have been of great attractivenss.

"Miss Ward, at the end of half a dozen years, found herself obliged to be attached to the Rev. Mr. Norris, a friend of her brother–in–law, with scarcely any private fortune, and Miss Frances fared yet worse. Miss Ward’s match, indeed, when it came to the point, was not contemptible."

"Poor Mr. Norris’s indifferent state of health made it an impossibility: he could no more bear the noise of a child than he could fly; if, indeed, he should ever get well of his gouty complaints, it would be a different matter: she should then be glad to take her turn, and think nothing of the inconvenience; but just now, poor Mr. Norris took up every moment of her time, and the very mention of such a thing she was sure would distract him."