Fanny Price is the eldest daughter in a large family of small means. When she is nine years old, she is sent to live with her wealthier relations in the country, the Bertram family and her Aunt Norris. Fanny is a very timid child and feels very inferior around her four cousins, Julia, Maria, Edmund, and Tom. Julia and Maria are just slightly older than Fanny, but they never include her or help her feel a part of the household. Tom is much older than Fanny and just tolerates her, but Edmund becomes Fanny's friend and benefactor, helping her with her education and making sure she is looked after when the rest of the family neglects her. Fanny stays in touch with her older brother William, but she hardly ever gets to see him.