How fortunate for Louisa that Mrs. Harville and her nurserymaid are both very capable nurses. Can you imagine if Mary's help were truly needed in the sick room? Hysterics! And of course she would be of no assistance with the children.

At least I can believe that Mary imagined herself equal to the task. She really thought she would be helpful. She is painfully unaware of her own limitations. Furthermore, with Louisa so well cared for by others, one would doubt she will come away from this episode any more self-aware. Isn't it interesting that she accuses men of always getting out of things but this is certainly an apt description of herself. "If there is any thing disagreeable going on, men are always sure to get out of it, and Charles is as bad as any of them. "