Rachel G thanks..

I do think that one of the problems for MP for me at least is that Austen never quite resolves the problem of Sir Thomas.. I think that she created a man with a strong conflict between hsi worldly sense and his sense of what is right... and very often the worldly side wins. he means to do right by Fanny but he soon seems to just let her slip away and become a poor relation who is exploited by his wife nad Mrs N. He leaves his daugthers to Mrs Norris and does not see that they are growing up very selfish and worldly.. He wants them to marry people of integrity.. but somehow he's willing to settle for rich husbands.. He is willing, becuase of financial problems, to let Mrs N provide for Fanny and IMO refuses to notice how "cheap" she is and how unlikely it is that she would do so... Surely he can't be entirely unaware of what Mrs N is really like? If he is he's not very perceptive...
and he also has a very daunting, depressing side that (while the young Bertrams are probably not the most intelligent or affectionate in the world) has probably diminished htem emotioanlly and helped to destroy any natural affection they have for him. He DOES seem to change a bit when he coems back from Antigua, but does Austen really realise that this change (not sure how likely it is) is now too late ot make a difference?
Im not expressing this very well but wll try and say some more on it later today..