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diff --git a/77271-h/77271-h.htm b/77271-h/77271-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..67cce4b --- /dev/null +++ b/77271-h/77271-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6898 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Margaret Dashwood or interference | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 47.5%; margin-right: 47.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +.author { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 20% + } + +.author2 { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 23% + } + +.author3 { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 25% + } + +.x-ebookmaker body {margin: 0;} +.x-ebookmaker-drop {color: inherit;} + +.ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } +.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } +.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } +.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } + +.tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; +padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; +padding-right: .5em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp70 {width: 70%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp70 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77271 ***</div> + + +<h1>MARGARET DASHWOOD<br> +or +INTERFERENCE</h1> + +<p class="ph4">by</p> + +<p class="ph2">Mrs. FRANCIS BROWN</p> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowp70" id="i_titlepage-illo" style="max-width: 18.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_titlepage-illo.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<p class="ph2">London<br> +John Lane The Bodley Head Limited</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph4"><i>First published in 1929</i></p> + + +<p class="ph4"><i>Made and Printed in Great Britain by<br> +Tonbridge Printers, Peach Hall Works, Tonbridge</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<blockquote> +<p>“Fortunately for Sir John and Mrs. Jennings, +when Marianne was taken from them, Margaret +had reached an age highly suitable for dancing, +and not very ineligible for being supposed to have +a lover.”</p> + +<p class="author"> + “<i>Sense and Sensibility.</i>” +</p> +</blockquote> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">To</span></p> + +<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">My Daughter Helen</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="ph3">MARGARET DASHWOOD</p> + +<p class="ph3"><i>or</i></p> + +<p class="ph3">INTERFERENCE</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="MARGARET_DASHWOOD"> + MARGARET DASHWOOD + </h2> +</div> + +<hr class="r5"> + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I + </h2> + + + +<p>Margaret Dashwood was an observer +of life. Her temper was calm, her manner +gentle, and she was able to listen to the accounts +other people gave of their activities without the +appearance of fatigue. The circumstances of her +life up to the age of seventeen had combined to +increase in her these qualities, so valuable to her +acquaintance, so agreeable to herself, and so baffling +to those desiring a nearer intimacy. She was the +youngest of three daughters, not so accomplished +and self-reliant as Elinor, not so handsome and +impulsive as Marianne, and less attractive +than either, if to be immediately noticed is to be +attractive.</p> + +<p>Their mother was a widow, whose income, +though possibly equal to her expenditure, was +consistently below her wishes, and the three Miss +Dashwoods were obliged to suit their requirements +to their mother’s purse rather than to her heart.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Dashwood had lived for ten years +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>with his uncle, the owner of a large estate in Sussex +to which Mr. Dashwood was the heir. The property +was inherited, but enjoyed for only a twelvemonth, +and Mrs. Dashwood became a widow with a small +income.</p> + +<p>The idea of wealth takes root quickly in the +mind, and Mrs. Dashwood was not easily convinced +that she was now unable to afford indulgences for +her daughters. Her own tastes were simple, or +became so after her change of situation; and, in +order that Elinor and Marianne might be suitably +attired and escorted, her own pin-money was +severely taxed. Margaret, as the youngest daughter +and not yet grown up, had a more personal experience +of the family economies than her sisters, +and she learned more of the meaning of the +word “poor” than either of them was ever to +know.</p> + +<p>Six months after her husband’s death Mrs. Dashwood +removed, with her daughters, from Norland +Park, in the county of Sussex, to Barton Cottage, +near Exeter. Margaret was only thirteen at the +time of this removal and, though deeply mourning +the loss of her father, with whom she had been +a special favourite, her feelings on leaving her home +were tinged quite as much with excitement as with +regret. She had found, however, that, if she +wished to be left in peace to her own reflections, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>it was wise to agree with outward fervour with +Marianne, whose sensibilities were of such a nature +as to brook no opposition, least of all from a younger +sister.</p> + +<p>In Marianne’s company Margaret expressed +undying sorrow at parting from the woods of +Norland—but she ran away if her father’s name +occurred. With her mother she said little of +regrets, but something of the joy of living in a +cottage, and possibly keeping pigs and poultry; +and with Elinor her subjects of conversation were +still more limited for, as a rule, to her eldest sister +she said nothing at all. She was quite willing to +admire Elinor for her wisdom and elegance, but +was not very fond of her society, and did not +covet her notice, which usually took the form of +gentle reproof or a slightly satirical approval. +Margaret did not feel that she merited either. +Most of her time was spent with Marianne, who +would read aloud to her and rhapsodize with great +spirit, if no older listener was to be secured. With +her mother she was always happy, for Mrs. Dashwood +restrained her grief when with her child, +though she was in the habit of indulging it more +freely with her elder daughters.</p> + +<p>The new owner of Norland, John Dashwood, +the son of Mr. Dashwood by a former wife, early +took up his residence accompanied by his wife and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span>little son, now the heir to the property. Margaret +soon contrived to dismiss her brother and his wife +from her thoughts as “very disagreeable.” When +obliged to be in company with them she merely +thought of something else, and in this way escaped +much that tried her mother and sisters almost +beyond bearing. Her little nephew, Harry, she +loved dearly, and amused him untiringly, and in +this way gained approval and some degree of +liking from Mrs. John Dashwood. Margaret was +as unaware of this honour as she would have been +indifferent had she known of it.</p> + +<p>In one respect Elinor became the subject of +special interest and reflection to Margaret during +the months that followed their father’s death and +before their removal was decided. Mrs. John +Dashwood’s brother, Edward Ferrars, had come +to pay a short visit to his sister, and remained to +pay a long one. Wherever Margaret went in the +garden or shrubbery she found Edward and Elinor +there before her, pacing the walks in earnest talk +or sitting on a garden-seat while Elinor drew and +Edward read aloud to her. It was Margaret’s +first experience of the kind, and she found it +exceedingly interesting, so much so that on more +than one occasion she felt inclined to call her +mother’s attention to it, but the habit of silence +prevailed and, later, her thoughts were distracted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>by her mother’s announcement of the pending +removal.</p> + +<p>The day came for their departure, and Marianne’s +tears flowed freely in the carriage as they drove +away from Norland. Mrs. Dashwood did not +restrain her grief, and even the self-contained +Elinor was moved. Margaret, however, held her +perfectly dry handkerchief up to her face and +peeped over it at the countryside and villages. +By and by she was able to put away the appearance +of sorrow, and on the second day could enjoy the +journey without pretence. Elinor was determinedly +full of interest and admiration, Mrs. Dashwood +responded quickly to this happier mood, and even +Marianne brightened as the beauties of Devonshire +came in sight. Barton Cottage itself was pronounced +bearable, and its situation was found to +be perfection.</p> + +<p>Here Margaret was to live and grow up from +thirteen to seventeen—when our story opens—and +much was she to observe in those four years.</p> + +<p>She was to see how lovers advance and retire, +set to corners, and set to partners not only in the +ballroom. She was to find from Sir John Middleton +and his wife, their near neighbours, that kindness +could be inconvenient and that children could be +troublesome; from Colonel Brandon that a brother-in-law +could be old enough to be her father; from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>Edward Ferrars that a brother-in-law could be +sober enough to be her grandfather; from Mrs. +Jennings, Lady Middleton’s mother, that sweethearts +were a good joke; from Miss Steele that +beaux were vastly entertaining; and from her own +sisters that lovers caused more grief and pain than +she would have supposed possible.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>On an April day in 1813 Margaret Dashwood +and her mother were driven up to the door +of Barton Cottage. They left many interests +behind them at Delaford. Elinor Ferrars at the +parsonage, and Marianne Brandon at the mansion-house, +the husband of each, who seemed to Mrs. +Dashwood as dear as her own sons would have +been if she had had any, and two attractive grandchildren, +one in each household, made up the +number to six dear ones left behind. It would +not have been unlike Mrs. Dashwood’s warm-hearted +nature to have entered her own home +in dejection of spirits; but this was not the case. +She hurried in, full of interest and happiness, and +Margaret followed with the book and purse left +in the carriage.</p> + +<p>“Has Mr. Atherton arrived?” Mrs. Dashwood +asked the waiting maid. “Not yet; that is well. +Have you his room prepared? Miss Margaret and +I have had some refreshment on the road. Tell +Mrs. Thomas to keep back dinner till Mr. Atherton +arrives. He will be here before three o’clock I am +convinced.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood greeted the other servants, who +were assembled to meet her, with the sweetness +of address to which they were accustomed, and +joyfully turned to the parlour, whither Margaret had +preceded her.</p> + +<p>“What a lovely fire!” she said. “And a wonderful +basket of flowers from Sir John. What a +kind neighbour he is! To-morrow, my love, you +and I must walk up to the Park.”</p> + +<p>“And the next day Sir John and Mrs. Jennings +will come to us,” went on Margaret.</p> + +<p>“And the day after Lady Middleton and little +William,” continued Mrs. Dashwood.</p> + +<p>“And after that we go there again,” finished +Margaret.</p> + +<p>“You do not intend any objection, my Margaret, +surely? They are kind neighbours, and must be +treated with attention.”</p> + +<p>Margaret replied that she felt no objection that +she could urge.</p> + +<p>“On the whole I prefer visiting them to receiving +their calls. We have the pleasure of the walk, +and can end the visit when we choose, and though +doubtless we interrupt their occupations sadly, it +is better than being interrupted ourselves.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood had done less than justice to +Sir John Middleton’s neighbourliness of spirit. +The flowers were no more than the herald of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>goodwill. She was still re-arranging her dress in +her bed-chamber when she saw from her window +Sir John and Mrs. Jennings crossing the lawn, +and heard them tapping on the window to announce +their arrival to Margaret. Mrs. Dashwood entered +the sitting-room in time to catch Sir John’s inquiry +as to how many beaux Miss Margaret had left +disconsolate behind her at Delaford, and to hear +Mrs. Jennings’s hearty rejoinder on Margaret’s +behalf, “Miss Margaret has only to waggle her +little finger to have them all after her, but she will +not take the trouble.”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s composure remained undisturbed, and +she turned a smiling face to each in turn without +exerting herself to make any other reply.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood’s entrance stopped the flow of +gallantry by diverting the attention of the two +visitors to herself.</p> + +<p>“And how is dear Mrs. Ferrars? And Mrs. +Brandon too? As beautiful as ever, I will be +bound, and the children will be old enough to +fight each other now. My daughter Middleton is +desirous of hearing all about them. She has an +idea that Miss Marianne’s boy—I should say Mrs. +Brandon’s—is taller than William was at his age +and cannot rest till the matter is decided, and, +for my part, I hope, ma’am, that my grandson +has the advantage of yours, or we shall never hear +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>the last of it from the child’s mother. Is it not +so, Sir John? Lady Middleton is determined to +have her boy the taller.”</p> + +<p>“For my part, I do not care which has it, +ma’am,” replied Sir John, “but I hope William +will be the better sportsman when they are both +full grown, and that is all there is to say about +it.”</p> + +<p>“You will find us all poor company after the +party at Delaford, Miss Margaret,” went on Mrs. +Jennings. “There is not a young man within +ten miles, but we have one treat in store for you. +Who do you think is coming to the Park this +afternoon?”</p> + +<p>Margaret was unable to make any conjecture.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, what do you think of Miss Nancy +Steele?”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s smile gave very little indication of +her thoughts, which were briefly that the addition +of Miss Steele to the party at Barton would neither +lessen its dullness nor add to its happiness. One +merit in the arrival she could perceive: Miss +Steele’s beaux would prove a subject of conversation +more accessible than her own, as Miss Steele +would herself gladly supply all the material required +for Mrs. Jennings’s and Sir John’s wit, and would +join with enthusiasm in the laughter raised.</p> + +<p>Sir John’s next care was to secure the promise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span>of a speedy visit from the ladies, and was for +urging them to return with Mrs. Jennings and +himself at once to dine at the Park, and thus +secure the earliest possible meeting with Miss Steele. +To this Mrs. Dashwood would not consent, and +pleaded fatigue and the necessity of seeing her +household, in vain. Sir John would not give way +unless confronted with some better excuse than +what he surmised was mere disinclination. He +pressed his point so urgently that Mrs. Dashwood +thought it best to admit that it was not in their +power to accept his invitation. They were expecting +the arrival of Mr. Atherton that afternoon.</p> + +<p>“Ha ha! Miss Margaret,” ejaculated Mrs. Jennings. +“I was sure there was some beau in the +question. Don’t tell me but that Mr. Atherton is +young and handsome.”</p> + +<p>Sir John unwillingly admitted the prior claim +of a visitor in the house, and bowed himself out, +but with the assurance that he would wait on +Mr. Atherton at the earliest possible opportunity +on the morrow.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton was a stranger to both households, +if the term may rightly be used when letters have +been exchanged. Both Mrs. Dashwood and Sir +John had reached this stage of intimacy with the +expected guest, as Mr. Atherton was the new vicar +of Barton and had been presented to the living +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span>by Sir John, but owed his introduction to the +neighbourhood to a member of the Dashwood +family.</p> + +<p>Mrs. John Dashwood of Norland Park and Lady +Middleton were in the habit of meeting yearly +in London. There was a certain lack of heart, +and excess of formality on both sides, which +endeared them to each other, and so far as either +was capable of friendship they were friends. Therefore +when the living of Barton fell vacant it was +not long before Lady Middleton had confided to +Fanny Dashwood her hopes and fears in the +matter. Sir John’s judgment was not to be trusted, +and the new incumbent might be far from presentable +if the choice were left entirely to her husband’s +discretion.</p> + +<p>“My dear Lady Middleton, there can be no +occasion for you to see anything of the man,” +Mrs. Dashwood declared. “My own brother, it +is true, is in orders, but it is by no means the rule +for the profession to be adopted by people of birth +or consequence. Take my advice, and have very +little to do with the parsonage. You would not +like to see your darling William and Annamaria +intimate with the parsonage children?”</p> + +<p>“It is different in your case, Mrs. Dashwood,” +replied her ladyship. “Sir John is so fond of +society and entertainment that I am convinced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>he will have the new vicar constantly to the Park. +Poor old Mr. Tillis was bed-ridden, so could not +visit, but I am sure things will be different now, +and consequently it is of the greatest importance +that he should be of good appearance and gentlemanly +bearing.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. John Dashwood sympathized with her +friend on her husband’s regrettable lavishness of +hospitality, a fault of which her own spouse was +altogether free, though she sometimes suspected +him of over generosity in other directions. Nothing +was too much for him to do, no trouble too much +for him to undertake on behalf of his father’s widow +and her daughters.</p> + +<p>“I am telling Lady Middleton, my love,” she +went on as her husband entered the room, “how +your father’s death left the care of his second +family on your shoulders. Two of them have, as +you know, ma’am, made most creditable marriages, +entirely due to their brother’s untiring efforts on +their behalf, and now there is poor little Margaret, +by far the most affectionate of the three, but we +can hear of nothing for her.”</p> + +<p>As Lady Middleton was tolerably well acquainted +with the facts she might have been surprised by +this account of the courtship and marriage of the +two elder Miss Dashwoods, but the truth is that +she heard none of it. Her attention had been +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>caught by an annoying tear in her best India +muslin; and, when she had disengaged her thoughts +from this disaster, they had flown back to the +possible inconvenience of an unsuitable appointment +to the living of Barton.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Mr. Dashwood could help us,” she +said, and related to him her perplexities and fears. +He was all attention and sympathy. Such a +danger must at all costs be averted, and he begged +for a few moments’ quiet while he considered the +matter from every point of view.</p> + +<p>This was readily agreed to, and ten minutes +complete silence granted him. The time was +pleasantly spent by the two ladies in discussing +the merits of a fine darn as compared with a new +breadth, Mrs. Dashwood arguing economy and +Lady Middleton fearful that no darn could be +finely enough executed to please her. Meanwhile +Mr. Dashwood paced the room with his hands +behind him in anxious thought. When he reseated +himself in his chair, and brought the points of his +fingers together, his attitude and expression were +those of quiet satisfaction.</p> + +<p>“Your ladyship,” he began, “I think I may +congratulate myself on having solved your problem +and our own at one and the same time. +Two birds with one stone in fact, though I +flatter myself that this idea of mine is more—or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>rather I should say less—in fact there is no killing +in the question; quite the contrary. I happen +to number among my acquaintance a certain +Mr. Atherton, a very fine young man indeed—quite +a presentable figure. He has moderate +means, but wishes to improve his position, and +considers taking Orders. The offer of the living +of Barton should settle the matter. I am inclined +to think that your ladyship and Sir John would +find him acceptable. Other developments, my +dear Fanny, we may hope will follow.”</p> + +<p>Lady Middleton neither knew nor cared what +the other developments might be. Her carriage +was announced at that moment, and she departed +to acquaint Sir John with Mr. Dashwood’s +suggestion.</p> + +<p>Once more John Dashwood’s generous plans +seemed successful. To confer benefits at the +expense of his acquaintance was ever before him, +as his duty to society. Sir John seemed only too +glad to be spared trouble and responsibility. +Mr. Atherton was in due course made known to +Lady Middleton; and, though Sir John could not +spare time while in town to meet the young man +himself, he was satisfied if Lady Middleton was +pleased. He wrote a friendly letter offering the +living. Mr. Atherton wrote a politely grateful +one accepting it, and plans for the improvement +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>of the vicarage were immediately put in hand. +Improvements are seldom rapidly accomplished, +and these took so long that Mr. Atherton had +taken Orders, and was prepared to enter on his +new duties before the house was ready for him.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Dashwood, however, would not submit +to a postponement of the happiness he proposed +for his sister and her mother, and for Sir John +and Lady Middleton, and for Mr. Atherton himself. +He generously provided for the comfort of the +latter by writing to implore his mother-in-law to +despatch an invitation to the new vicar to enable +him to begin his duties from Barton Cottage.</p> + +<p>With unfailing courtesy and hospitality she +readily agreed. The invitation was sent, and +accepted, and Mr. Atherton was momentarily +expected.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood’s attempt to exclude +Mr. Atherton’s name from her conversation +with Sir John was not caused by any wish on +her part to keep the intended visit a secret. She +was well aware that nothing of the sort was possible, +but she would have been better pleased if Sir John +and Mrs. Jennings had accepted her first excuses. +Though accustomed to their raillery on the subject +of courtship she never became reconciled to it, +and had a habit of avoiding all mention of young +men when in their society. She had therefore +desired to postpone for herself and Margaret the +witticisms which she knew to be inevitable as +soon as Mr. Atherton’s arrival should be known.</p> + +<p>Marianne had once remarked that, though the +rent of Barton Cottage was said to be low, they +had it on very hard terms, as they were under +the necessity of dining at the Park whenever +anyone stayed with either family. Mrs. Dashwood +had long ago decided that she did not choose to +accept such frequent invitations; but in her own +case she felt that she paid over and over again +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>for the advantages of her pretty house in the +annoyance she experienced in having her daughter’s +affections and prospects made the subject of +continual joking and surmise on the part of Sir +John and Mrs. Jennings. The real regard which +the family at Barton Cottage entertained for +Mrs. Jennings’s kindness of heart did not lessen +their disapproval for the freedom of her manners; +and Sir John, in the course of the four or five years +of their acquaintance, had developed no such +admirable qualities as to make his tedious vulgarity +endurable. Mrs. Dashwood was too truly amiable +to speak either of or to her neighbours in any +censorious fashion, but she often marvelled at the +calmness with which Margaret received their sallies, +and wondered if her youngest daughter could be +lacking in some of the fine sensibility which so +distinguished Marianne, and the delicacy of feeling +which was Elinor’s greatest charm.</p> + +<p>Margaret had long ago made up her mind to +present a calm front to Sir John’s attacks and his +mother-in-law’s jocularity. She had a painful +remembrance of the day when she had hinted +before Sir John at the secret of Edward Ferrar’s +attachment to Elinor. She had suffered in consequence. +Elinor had felt the indignity of this public +discussion of her private affairs, and Margaret +had incurred her resentment. This had been no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>light matter in Barton Cottage. Miss Dashwood +had a manner of expressing herself which, though +perfectly gentle, was none the less reproving, and +neither her mother nor her sisters could face the +possibility of Elinor’s displeasure with equanimity. +Margaret came to dread Sir John’s jokes, his +drinking to her sister’s best affections, his allusions +to the letter F, his sly inquiries, fully as much as +Elinor could herself; and, while Miss Dashwood +could feel that these annoyances were entirely +undeserved, to Margaret’s distress was added a +sense of guilt, which only increased as time went +on and she became more fully aware of her mistake.</p> + +<p>When her sisters married, and she herself became +the object of the raillery at Barton Park, she +made up her mind that smiling calm would prove +the best defence; that she would show nothing, +and if possible feel nothing, of vexation, and that +no one, not even her mother, should have reason +to suppose her affected by any remark on the +subject of love and marriage.</p> + +<p>Margaret and her mother occupied themselves +in silence for some time after their visitors had +taken their leave. Mrs. Dashwood had spent some +months with her married daughters in the quiet +elegance of their homes, where beaux and courtship +were not the subject of attention. She felt +her serenity threatened by the recent incursion, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>but Margaret, as she sat engaged with some needlework, +looked so unconscious of any disturbance +that Mrs. Dashwood’s spirits returned to their +usual level.</p> + +<p>“I look forward eagerly to the arrival of our +guest,” she said. “He will bring us some news +of your brother and his wife.”</p> + +<p>“We may hear how little Henry says his piece, +and what schemes for economy my brother has +in his mind,” replied Margaret, “but I do not +expect news.”</p> + +<p>Though Mrs. Dashwood’s contempt for John and +Fanny could hardly be a secret to anyone but +herself, she was always ready to champion the +absent; and she now remarked with approval that +Fanny was indeed a devoted mother, and that +John’s caution in expenditure might be of great +service to little Henry.</p> + +<p>Margaret’s reply was that she considered Mrs. +John Dashwood an admiring rather than a devoted +mother, and that she did not think her brother +was really consistent in his economies, which were +prompted more by meanness than by caution.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood admitted that she preferred wise +expenditure, and the conversation was not +continued.</p> + +<p>A slight shower was followed by sunshine so +brilliant as to draw Mrs. Dashwood to the window +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>in admiration. She was just in time to see a +curricle draw up and a very fine-looking young man +descend.</p> + +<p>“This must be our guest,” she cried, and noted +with approval his air of fashion and the becoming +cut of his many-caped driving coat.</p> + +<p>A moment later and he was bowing to the ladies +in the parlour, and expressing his felicitation in +being admitted to their quiet home circle. He +had, he said, spent the night at Exeter, and been +so overcome by the beauty of the Cathedral and +the charm of the surroundings that he had been in +no great hurry to continue his journey. However, +here he was at last and, had he known that so much +beauty and so much charm awaited him, he would +have been up betimes in order to make his stay +the longer.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood replied that they were themselves +but just returned home, and rang the bell +for Thomas to show her guest to his apartment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton’s conversation could be checked, +but could not be diverted. He had come prepared +to admire Margaret, and admire her he would. +He was in the habit of recounting his experiences, +and recount them he would. The dinner-table +served as an appropriate opportunity for both. +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughter must perforce +listen, and no interruption beyond the offering of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>a dish by Thomas, or some gentle direction to the +servant on the part of Mrs. Dashwood, was possible. +He was sure of his audience and of their attention, +and took all else for granted.</p> + +<p>After a careful description of his journey he +allowed himself to return to more personal topics.</p> + +<p>“I have had the pleasure of meeting your son +and his charming wife, madam. They were so +good as to ask me to dine with them and, after +dinner, I had the felicity of beholding a portrait +of yourself and your two lovely daughters, the +work, so I understand, of your eldest and most +highly gifted daughter. I was therefore in some +degree prepared—I may say I expected almost a +disappointment, but such is far from being the +case.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood thought it best to misunderstand, +and said with a pleasant smile that Barton +was a pretty, agreeable place and the neighbourhood +a good one. She could answer for it that +Mr. Atherton would find it no disappointment, +but possibly beyond his expectations. Mr. Atherton +would not allow his compliments to be so +misinterpreted. His gallantry must not be wasted +on the village of Barton when it was intended to +bring the smile of pleasure to Miss Margaret’s +bright eyes. He said as much, and received no +reply from either lady. However, he was satisfied +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>that his meaning had been made clear to them, +and was for the present content to leave the subject +of Margaret’s beauty and to display the perfection +of his taste in some other particulars.</p> + +<p>“You have a very pretty dining-parlour, madam, +and a charming prospect, but that mulberry tree +is too near. Take my advice, madam, and have +it cut down. You would then secure a beautiful +open view across the valley.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was so good as to give her +reasons for sparing the tree. They were that the +tree was an old one and supplied some shelter +from prevailing winds, and that she and her daughter +were partial to the fruit. Mr. Atherton considered +these excuses should weigh but lightly against the +improved health which might be expected from +the removal of the tree. Trees too near a house +were unhealthy. Small rooms were also to be +deplored. Did Mrs. Dashwood not consider this +dining-parlour too small for comfort?</p> + +<p>“Our party is a small one,” replied Mrs. Dashwood. +“It is large enough for my daughter and +myself, and it is seldom that we have any company.”</p> + +<p>“Still, a spacious room is much to be desired. +I would never willingly dine in a room less than +twenty feet long. Twenty feet or perhaps twenty-two. +The feeling of being cramped for space is, +I think, intolerable. I should recommend your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>throwing this room and the adjoining one together. +You would then have a very handsome room, one +of which you could be justly proud.”</p> + +<p>“But I should have only one parlour,” Mrs. +Dashwood protested, “and there is a passage +between this and the sitting-room.”</p> + +<p>“All the better! You could include the passage, +and have a noble room indeed. A sitting-room +could very easily be built on the lawn there. True, +you must then cut down the mulberry tree, but +that would be all to the good. They are untidy +trees, and the wood is, I believe, capital fuel.”</p> + +<p>Margaret suggested that these improvements +would be expensive.</p> + +<p>“No, I assure you, the cost would be trifling,” +was his reply. “My father’s own brother enlarged +his house in some such way, and the cost was +really nothing, a mere song, and the improvement +beyond all words. His room was majestic. No +other description would suffice. Truly majestic!”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood declared that she and Margaret +lived so quiet a life that a cosy room was all they +desired.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton considered this point, but would +not concede it. It gave him, however, a fresh +impetus. He now perceived another subject on +which his advice might be of value.</p> + +<p>“But, madam,” he protested, “is it well, do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span>you think, to lead so quiet a life? You should +travel. Nothing so enlarges the mind and refreshes +the intellect as travel. Let me urge you to take +Miss Margaret travelling.”</p> + +<p>“We are but just returned from a visit,” said +Mrs. Dashwood, still smiling, “and I think we +are ready for a little quiet. The garden is a +pleasure, and my daughter has her instrument.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing to the purpose,” asserted Mr. Atherton +solemnly. “The enjoyment of music, the pleasures +of scenery, the delights of conversation are all +enhanced by travel, and nothing can take the +place of travel as a means of improving the mind.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood, having intercepted a look from +Margaret, was unable to make any reply, and +Margaret interposed sweetly to allow her mother +time to recover her gravity.</p> + +<p>“Where do you suggest our travelling, sir? +What have you done yourself that you can +recommend?”</p> + +<p>Then it appeared that he was no traveller himself. +He had often wished to travel, and had +always been prevented, sometimes by inclement +weather, sometimes by engagements in town, once +by an exceedingly bad cold, but he was an advocate +for travel in general, and believed every one was +the better for it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood mentioned the theatre, and Mr. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>Atherton hastened to inform her that Drury Lane +was in the course of rebuilding, that Edmund +Kean was the finest actor of the day, that Mrs. +Siddons was growing old, that Lady Macbeth was +undoubtedly her finest part, and that the theatre +generally had undergone a change for the better +in the past few years.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood hardly knew what to do with so +much information. She was attempting some +reply when Margaret gently interposed with some +remark about the new publications, and in a +moment he was off again, talking of Scott, of +Campbell, of Lord Byron, and of Southey without +intermission and without any real perception, till +the ladies seized the opportunity of a moment’s +hesitation to rise from the table and leave him to +his wine.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton soon followed them. Mrs. Dashwood +had taken the precaution to have by her +some volumes of poetry, and on his appearance +immediately begged him to read aloud. He +selected “The Lady of the Lake,” and the evening +was passed in tolerable comfort listening to his +rhythmic rendering of the adventures of James +Fitz-James.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The next morning found the Barton Cottage +guest as eagerly determined on gallantry as +ever. He appeared at the breakfast table full of +admiration and discourse, and allowed no opportunity +to slip of showing himself to be at once +an ardent observer of beauty and an able critic +in every department of life. He worked hard at +the display and it was by no fault of negligence +that he was unsuccessful in impressing the +ladies.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was not without surprise. His +admiration of Margaret was too determined to be +altogether genuine and it was matter for wonder +that he should be so anxious to secure her good +opinion on any other grounds than those of real +preference. Her fortune was small in fact, and +there was nothing in their way of living to suggest +that it was considerable. Mrs. Dashwood therefore +acquitted him of mercenary designs, but felt +at a loss as to what motive should be attributed +to him. Possibly the whole thing was mere vanity +and display.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> + +<p>She had arrived at this conclusion by the time +breakfast was finished, and spoke her intention of +walking out after she had given her orders for the +day. Mr. Atherton begged to be allowed to accompany +her, and the permission was reluctantly given, +but was immediately made valueless by the timely +entry of Sir John. Never had she been so glad +to see his ruddy face and to hear his hearty voice! +He was surprised himself at the warmth of his +reception. Though he had not perceived anything +amiss on former occasions, he must be conscious +of the extreme pleasure with which he was greeted +now. The pleasure was not however unalloyed. +He came to suggest that he might have the satisfaction +of taking Mr. Atherton round the village +and making him known to his parishioners. So +far all was to the good, and the attention to Mr. +Atherton greatly appreciated by all present; but +the happy effect was spoiled by what followed.</p> + +<p>“If Miss Margaret will forgive me for taking +her beau away from her for a morning. Never +mind, Miss Margaret, you shall have his company +this afternoon, and be able to show him off too, +and turn Miss Nancy green with envy, for I am +charged by Lady Middleton to beg that you will +do us the honour of dining with us today; you +and Mr. Atherton and Mrs. Dashwood too, if she +will be so good.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was not in the habit of accepting +casual invitations to the Park, but on this occasion +she thought it best to do so. The evil of allowing +Margaret and Mr. Atherton to appear there +without her seemed greater than that of herself +enduring the tediousness of the engagement. She +therefore accepted with her usual grace, and +Sir John and Mr. Atherton went off together, +leaving the ladies entirely without regret at their +departure.</p> + +<p>“Can this possibly be endured?” was the +question in both their minds. “Is there no way +to avoid the continued infliction of the young man’s +presence?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was a fortunate woman in that +a circumstance which to some people would be +a grief often presented itself to her happy temperament +in some other light. Mrs. Thomas greeted +her mistress with a very long face. Her husband +was far from well, was, in fact, quite unfit for his +duties and, with this gentleman in the house, +Mrs. Thomas really did not see how things could +be as they should. It was very much against her +husband’s wishes to fail his mistress at such a +time, but it was hoped that she would understand. +Mrs. Dashwood cut short the apologies. Of course +Thomas must take the necessary rest. All could +well be arranged. They were dining at the Park +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>that day, and she had no doubt that Sir John +and Lady Middleton would relieve the Cottage +of their guest. It would be quite simple for Mr. +Atherton to be transferred to the Park. Meanwhile +they would send word to the apothecary +to ask him to visit the Cottage and recommend +treatment. Mrs. Thomas did not think this necessary, +and the interview closed with mutual esteem—Mrs. +Thomas admiring Mrs. Dashwood as a kind +and considerate mistress, and Mrs. Dashwood full +of appreciation for the worthy pair who would +be the means of ridding her of her uncongenial +guest.</p> + +<p>Margaret was soon acquainted with this desirable +prospect, and expressed all the elation expected +by her mother. She really felt satisfaction and +relief, but a considerable portion of her mind was +unaffected by this. She was experiencing some +depression of spirits. The return home had been +eagerly anticipated. She did not greatly enjoy +the visits to her sisters’ houses. She was there +of little importance to anyone, and her mother, +her chief companion, was, naturally, absorbed in +the delight of playing with her grandchildren +and advising their mothers. Delaford was no very +pleasurable abode for Margaret; and now, when +she was come home, what did she find? Sir John +and Mrs. Jennings with their curiosity and jocularity. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>Lady Middleton, true, was not yet encountered, +but what hope was there that she would +be less cold, less conventional than was her wont? +Miss Nancy Steele? Uneducated! Inquisitive! +What improvement could be looked for there? +Mr. Atherton, who might have brought some +interest into their surroundings, was more tedious, +more utterly uninteresting than any of the others. +He had not even the charm of familiarity.</p> + +<p>Her mother was her only comfort and, even +there, so much brightness and eagerness were +sometimes hard to appreciate. She <i>would</i> like +so many people, was so determined to think well +of every one, so universally affectionate and +credulous. Her dislike of Mr. Atherton was a +relief, but even that would only last a few days. +Once he was out of the house, and need only be +listened to on occasions, he would take his place +as one of “our kind neighbours who must be +treated with attention.”</p> + +<p>Margaret felt that her spirits required some +change, and she decided to take a walk which +had been a favourite one with Marianne and +herself ever since their first coming to Barton +Cottage. She would climb the High-church down, +and there, meeting the fresh wind, she would +escape from the discontent and weariness of spirit +of which she was ashamed. Her mother made no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>objection, and she started on her solitary ramble. +There was now no Elinor at hand to suggest that +every one should take exercise together in the +same direction at the same time. Mrs. Dashwood +and Margaret were able to do as they wished +without comment. This was something to cause +rejoicing and, as Margaret mounted the hill in +the spring sunshine, her spirits rose also.</p> + +<p>The slope she ascended led directly from their +garden gate, and she recalled, as she hastened up +it, that day some four years ago, when she and +Marianne were caught in a sudden storm on the +summit, and raced each other down the hill. +Marianne caught her foot, and sprained her ankle. +Willoughby had appeared—“Marianne’s preserver.” +She remembered with a smile that it +was she who had given him the name. Willoughby +had appeared, and had carried her sister to the +house, and the next few weeks had been all romance +and excitement, until the dreadful time had come +when Marianne had wept all day, and her mother +and Elinor went about with grave sad faces, and +no one ever thought of telling her what it was all +about. Then her sisters had gone to London and +she and her mother had spent happy months +together, all too soon ended with Marianne home +ill and Elinor more severe than ever. After all +there was nothing to excuse so much unhappiness, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>for Elinor had married Edward Ferrars, and they +seemed to like each other very well, and not to +mind being rather quiet and dull; and Marianne +had married Colonel Brandon, although she always +said he was too old to think of marrying, and +Marianne was not only happy, but rapturously so; +and she did not seem to think the Colonel dull at +all, and would certainly have minded very much if +he had been so.</p> + +<p>All of which passed through Margaret’s mind +as she climbed, and convinced her that she +missed Marianne very greatly, and that it was her +absence which was the chief cause of her own discontent.</p> + +<p>A sharp gust of wind met her on the summit, +and, to her consternation, the light scarf which +she held round her shoulders was lifted from her +grasp and blew away across the down. She hurried +after it, hoping that it might catch on some tuft +of grass, or stone, or hawthorn tree, and over the +next rise she encountered it again.</p> + +<p>It was in the hands of a young man of pleasing +appearance, who had evidently caught it on the +wind, and was looking at it with great interest. +She paused on seeing him, and he, at the same +moment perceiving her, hurried towards her with +a smiling face to return her property. His manner +was so open and unaffected, his pleasure in being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>of use so evident, his eye so bright, his person +so agreeable, in fact, his whole bearing so +truly amiable that she felt some regret that it +seemed right to do no more than accept the scarf, +proffer her thanks and turn away to descend the +hill.</p> + +<p>This was not at all what he approved, however, +and he asked at once if she had not intended to +walk on the down in the direction from whence +he came. Margaret admitted that this was so, +and was proceeding on her walk when she found +to her surprise that he intended to walk with her. +Perhaps she was wrong to allow it, but it was not +easy to object without incivility, and he walked +by her side with such easy grace and without +the appearance of thinking that he was behaving +in any way out of the ordinary. It was pleasant +and it was very unexpected, and Margaret was in +a mood to appreciate either.</p> + +<p>They walked for some three-quarters of an hour, +conversing on general topics when the high wind +made it possible. She parted from him where they +had met without having learnt his name or told +him her own.</p> + +<p>As she returned to the Cottage she decided to +say nothing of this encounter. “It is of no +moment,” she thought. “We shall never meet +again. My mother might think me indiscreet. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>She might even speak of it. They might come to +the knowledge of it at the Park.”</p> + +<p>With that dreadful thought her mind was finally +made up. She would not speak of the agreeable +stranger to anyone at all.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Dining at the Park was an event which +possessed neither interest nor novelty. Margaret +did not anticipate any pleasure beyond the +minor ones of excellent food and elegant surroundings. +Her mind was, however, so pleasantly +occupied with the event of the morning that she +dressed for the engagement with a happy smile +and, on joining her mother and Mr. Atherton in +the hall, and preparing to set out for their walk +to the Park, she looked so pretty that Mrs. Dashwood +gazed at her with the tenderest affection and +Mr. Atherton with an admiration which for once +was genuine.</p> + +<p>As they crossed the grounds of the Park, Mrs. +Dashwood’s replies were absent-minded and Margaret +said nothing at all. Mr. Atherton had to +supply all the conversation himself, a feat which +was to him no feat at all, for he barely stopped +talking all the way, and yet arrived untired and +with fresh stores of information to be expended +at the dining-table of Barton Park. Here, however, +he was unable to have things as he liked. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>Sir John Middleton was fond of talking himself. +Mrs. Jennings had no notion of being silent, and +Miss Nancy Steele seldom paused except for +breath. It was a thoroughly noisy party, and for +the most part a happy one. Lady Middleton was +pleased with her appearance, and that of her +dining-table, and only Mrs. Dashwood and her +daughter fell short of enjoyment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was at her best only in her own +house. She did not care for dinner engagements +or desultory conversation, and the glare, heat and +noise at Barton Park were irksome to her. Margaret +was as usual the subject of much jesting, +but shared this honour with Miss Steele, who +soon succeeded in inducing the main stream of +the wit to flow in her direction.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton was placed between them, with +the usual allusion to roses and thorns, and it was +supposed that Miss Steele and Margaret would +enter into competition to secure his notice. Miss +Steele’s victory was almost too easy.</p> + +<p>“Take care, cousin, the Doctor shall hear of +this,” called Sir John from the head of the table. +“Don’t imagine you are safe. I have his address +I think. Dr. Davis, Dash Street, Plymouth, isn’t +it? We’ll soon let him know how you behave.”</p> + +<p>“What does it matter to me what the Doctor +hears?” called Miss Nancy in delighted protest. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>“He’d better mind his own business I say, and +so I should say if he were here, right to his +face.”</p> + +<p>“We’ll get him here, cousin. That’s what we’ll +do, and see if you don’t call another tune.”</p> + +<p>“A fine thing it would be if I couldn’t speak +to anyone but him. I wonder what he would +have thought of me yesterday, for there was a +very fine young man in the coach with me, and +he was most excessively polite with the baggage, +and asked me if I would have the window up, +and did I like a corner seat. Most attentive, he +was! And he got down, not half a mile from Barton +Park, and I heard him tell the guard he was a +stranger, and he asked for some direction, but +there was an old woman coughing in the road and +I could not hear any more.”</p> + +<p>Sir John’s attention was attracted. He did not +always pay Miss Steele the compliment of listening +to her, but a man in the neighbourhood with whom +he was unacquainted, a stranger, was a matter +of interest to him. He wondered who could have +a guest without his having previous knowledge +of it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jennings surmised. “Was it, perhaps, Mr. +Willoughby coming to visit Mrs. Smith?”</p> + +<p>Miss Nancy was positive. “La, now! Should +I call Mr. Willoughby a stranger after all that’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>come and gone? Why, I should be ashamed to +mention him in the present company.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood, on hearing her daughter’s disappointment +thus delicately referred to, engaged +Lady Middleton in a more animated conversation +than that lady often experienced. Margaret, however, +heard good Mrs. Jennings say:</p> + +<p>“Sh! Sh! We don’t speak of that now. Miss +Marianne would not like it remembered! If this +was not Mr. Willoughby, who in the world can it +have been?”</p> + +<p>“His name was Pennington,” said Miss Nancy.</p> + +<p>“Ha! Ha! cousin, so you’ve exchanged names +and addresses I see. The poor, poor Doctor! +I wouldn’t give a button for his chance now.”</p> + +<p>“No, Sir John, there you are wrong. I hope I +know my dignity better than to be asking a strange +young man for his address. I just peeped at the +label on his luggage when he got down at a change, +and the name was Pennington, as large as life.”</p> + +<p>“Pennington? I don’t know a Pennington,” +considered Sir John. “But I tell you what, +cousin! We will find out and invite him to the +ball next week, and we will get the Doctor too, and, +with Mr. Atherton here, we will be able to find out +who <i>is</i> your beau after all. Only tell ’em from +me that if they want to cut each other’s throats +they must do it outside on the lawn there. Her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>ladyship will not have bloodshed in the drawing-room.”</p> + +<p>Her ladyship caught only the last word, but it +suggested to her a mode of release from a conversation +which had become wearisome. She immediately +got the ladies moving away from the dining-room, +where they left Sir John and Mr. Atherton +to discuss their wine and politics, with the usual +parting admonition that they should be speedy.</p> + +<p>In the drawing-room the party divided into two +groups. Lady Middleton and her mother listened +with sympathy to the account Mrs. Dashwood +gave of Thomas’s health and very ready was the +offer of hospitality for Mr. Atherton at the Park +to relieve the household at the Cottage of their +guest. Mrs. Dashwood again had reason to feel +that, however tedious their society might be, they +were indeed the kindest of neighbours.</p> + +<p>Margaret meanwhile was the recipient of Miss +Nancy’s confidences so heart-rendingly curtailed +at the dining-table, and it was not long before +she became privately convinced that her acquaintance +of the morning and Miss Nancy’s beau were +one and the same. How far he deserved the latter +appellation she was still uncertain. Possibly he +did not deserve it at all; but the thought was +unpleasant, and she was grateful to Lady Middleton +for suggesting that she should try the instrument, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>which had not been touched for many weeks. +She remained there till it was time for tea.</p> + +<p>The gentlemen appeared in the drawing-room, +and Mr. Atherton received the kindest invitation +from Lady Middleton, seconded with prodigious +warmth by Sir John, to take up his quarters at +the Park until his own house should be ready for +him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton did not demur. It was not beyond +his power to convey suitable thanks to Sir John +and Lady Middleton, the right regrets to Mrs. +Dashwood, the assurance of undying admiration +to Margaret, and the suggestion of increasing +attention to Miss Steele all in the same sentence +and almost in the same breath. The circumstance +was undoubtedly of value to him. His consequence +would be increased by his association with Barton +Park and, though anxious for some reasons to +improve his position with Margaret, opportunities +must offer, even when separated from her by half +a mile. The society at the Park was very congenial +to him. The same obtuseness of feeling, +conventionality of expression and denseness in +understanding, which were his, also distinguished +the inmates of the Park.</p> + +<p>At Barton Cottage he had not been perfectly +at ease. He had not, he must confess to himself, +found Mrs. Dashwood so gracious and charming +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>as he had been led to expect, and the lady whom +he held himself destined to install at the parsonage +was less able in conversation and not so easily +entertained as he had hoped. She had yawned +twice during his reading of “The Lady of the +Lake,” and was at all times disconcertingly silent. +Not that he was disconcerted by her silence. Not +in the least! But he must admit to himself that +the agreeable circle at the Park had been a great +relief.</p> + +<p>Margaret heard the invitation given and accepted +with calm satisfaction, and the evening ended +with a quiet stroll back across the Park grounds +with her mother, followed by Sir John’s man, +who was to pack Mr. Atherton’s personal belongings +and take them to the Park, where he himself +remained.</p> + +<p>It was a welcome change, and Mrs. Dashwood’s +tender solicitude for Thomas when she got home +was deepened by the feeling that she and Margaret +had reason to feel very much obliged to him +indeed.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The next day was so delightfully fine that +Margaret professed herself unable to stay in +the house, and begged her mother’s indulgence +for taking another long walk. Mrs. Dashwood +agreed at once. She supposed that Margaret +shared her apprehension that Mr. Atherton would +appear during the course of the morning to sit +with them, and sympathized with her daughter +in desiring to escape. For herself she must bear +the infliction, but believed that Margaret’s absence +would make it a short one. She purposely made no +inquiry as to Margaret’s direction and would inform +Mr. Atherton only that her daughter was walking.</p> + +<p>She expected a slight annoyance, but it was a +much greater one that arrived. The post brought a +letter from Mr. John Dashwood. It was as follows:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="author3"> + <span class="smcap">Norland Park,</span></p> +<p class="author2"> + <span class="smcap">Sussex.</span></p> +<p class="author"> + <i>April 15th, 1813.</i></p> + <p> + <span class="smcap">My Dear Madam</span>, +</p> + +<p>You will no doubt feel some surprise +on receiving a letter from me, but have no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>fear, we are all well, and Fanny desires her best +respects.</p> + +<p>You will have with you at this time the new +incumbent of the living of Barton, Mr. Atherton, +and I trust his manners and address are as pleasing +to you as they were to ourselves. A very fine +young man indeed, and it is a satisfaction to feel +that he owes his preferment, though indirectly, +to our interest. No doubt a certain happy possibility +will have occurred to you, madam, and rest +assured it has not been absent from our thoughts. +Mr. Atherton comes to you prepared to admire +your daughter, and at Fanny’s express wishes I +offer my assistance in securing the settlement of +my sister. I told Mr. Atherton plainly that, in +the event of his marrying my sister, I was prepared +to increase her fortune by one half. I did not +inform him of the amount of her fortune, and +it may be that he has formed a hope that it is larger +than the one thousand pounds left to her by my +honoured uncle. However, in the event of this +happy occurrence you may rely on my holding +to my share of the bargain, and I will increase her +fortune by five hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>Margaret is a special favourite of my dear wife’s, +and it is at her instigation that I make this offer. +She is most anxious to see all our sisters comfortably +settled. As she wisely points out, they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>will then be independent, and we do not wish +our dear Harry to be responsible for the support +of his aunts, much loved as they undoubtedly +would be. One point I must endeavour to make +clear. This offer has only been made in the event +of my sister becoming Mrs. Atherton. Should she +fail to receive his addresses, should they not be +made, or even should they be refused, she must +be content with the same fortune as her sisters, +bequeathed to them by my good uncle. Fanny +is particularly anxious that this should be made +clear to Margaret. As she wisely and affectionately +says, “We must not allow our sister to become +the prey of any fortune-hunter.”</p> + +<p>Little Harry desires his love to his grandmother, +and believe me, dear madam, to be</p> + +<p class="author2"> + Your affectionate son,</p> +<p class="author"> + <span class="smcap">John Dashwood</span>. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>To say that this letter angered Mrs. Dashwood +is to fall far short of the truth. Her gentleness +and kindness of manner concealed a nature more +ardent than the generality. Her feelings on reading +John Dashwood’s letter were indescribable. Indignation +and disgust filled her mind to the exclusion +of all else for some time, till, taking up the letter +to reread some phrase of which the insolence was +not really lessened by unconsciousness of offence, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>her eyes fell on the statement that Margaret was +a special favourite with her sister-in-law. The +opposite feelings entertained for Fanny by Margaret +struck her sense of the ludicrous, and she read over +the whole letter with her appreciation of its +absurdity happily awakened.</p> + +<p>It is possible to be angry alone, but a joke must +be shared. Mrs. Dashwood’s sense of what was +proper forbade any mention of the letter to +Margaret. Marianne would be angered but not +amused. Elinor’s more delicately balanced mind +would perceive the ridiculous while reprobating +all that was objectionable. To Elinor she would +write, enclosing the letter, and expressing herself +with all the warmth of which she was capable. +Elinor was a perfectly safe confidante. Her discretion +was absolutely to be relied on, and to +Elinor she could allow herself that freedom of +speech which only excited Marianne and seemed +sometimes to alienate Margaret.</p> + +<p>She wrote also to John Dashwood, thanking +him for his letter and remarking that she had +no expectation of the kind to which he alluded. +She added merely love to little Harry, and omitted +all mention of Fanny. A “curiously cold letter” +this was considered at Norland Park, but, as +Fanny added for her own satisfaction: “Some +people are unable to express themselves in letters. It +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>is a mark of good breeding to be able to do so, but, +unfortunately, every one does not possess the gift.”</p> + +<p>John remarked with admiration that his Fanny +would always make excuses for every one, and +that he dared say his mother-in-law meant very +well and felt more gratitude than she expressed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood enclosed a copy of her reply +to Norland Park in her letter to Elinor, and felt +that she had washed her hands of the affair.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Mr. Atherton, he did not call on +her that morning. He considered it to be his duty +to his parishioners to pay a visit to every humble +dwelling, and this would occupy the whole morning. +He sent this message by Sir John, who +added:</p> + +<p>“However, he hopes to be allowed to wait on +you to-morrow morning, so Miss Margaret need not +think him faithless just yet.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood replied that her daughter would +be most unlikely to think anything about the +matter, but Sir John only looked wise, and murmured +something about “young ladies,” which +Mrs. Dashwood did not wish to understand.</p> + +<p>An awkward silence was broken by Sir John. +He had made inquiries about Miss Nancy’s other +beau, and found that there was some one of the +name of Pennington staying at the farm near the +Abbeyland—Grice’s farm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span></p> + +<p>“He is some relation of Mrs. Grice, and comes +of very low people. It seems he is in the navy, +but the navy admits all degrees nowadays. I am +afraid Miss Nancy will be disappointed. Lady +Middleton will not have him invited to the Park, +though for my own part, if a man is a well-looking +man and a good sportsman, it does not matter +to me who his grandfather was. However, her +ladyship’s views are different, and we all have to +do as our wives say we must.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was only interested in this in +so far as she imagined that, while Sir John ran +on about Miss Nancy’s beau, it was impossible for +him to touch on anything relating to the state +of her own daughter’s affections. She therefore +welcomed the change of conversation, and they +agreed very comfortably over the evils of chance +acquaintanceships and the deplorable mixture of +classes which obtained in the navy.</p> + +<p>Margaret’s walk had been taken in the same +direction as that of the previous day. She did +not resolve to go in that direction. Her feet +carried her thither. She had formed no opinion +as to what or whom she would find when she +reached the summit of High-church down, but it +was not surprise that caught her breath, and not +displeasure that brought her to a standstill when +she came in sight of her companion of yestermorning, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>and was greeted by him with all the +warmth and civility which would have been +justified only by long acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Somehow, justification seemed unnecessary. He +was there, and she was with him. The wind was +not so boisterous this morning; and, as they +walked side by side, she could hear all that he told +her. He had been in many parts of the world—much +in the Mediterranean and in the East Indies. +He had been at Trafalgar when a lieutenant in +the “Orion.” He had seen Lord Nelson and +Admiral Collingwood. He hoped to be employed +again shortly. In the meanwhile he had come +to see an old cousin of his mother’s, who lived in +this neighbourhood, and who had been his nurse. +Her name was Mrs. Grice. Did she know Mrs. +Grice? Margaret assented. He had more to tell +her of his journeys and of his home-comings. How +different was this flow of talk to that which she had +endured from the new vicar! So quiet, so easy was +his manner, so modest and impersonal his account of +his adventures, the interest so real and sustained!</p> + +<p>He asked no questions, but Margaret found +that she was telling him something of her own +life and more of her own thoughts than she had +ever told. The hour that they passed in each +other’s company seemed short. They parted, and +Margaret returned home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> + +<p>This time she was resolved that her mother +should know of the meeting. It was all a chance +occurrence, and of no real importance, but she +felt it right to tell her mother the little there was +to tell.</p> + +<p>She opened the door, and found Sir John sitting +with Mrs. Dashwood. He rose to greet her; and, +casting about in his mind for a suitable witticism, +he hit on the very thing to make her reconsider her +resolution.</p> + +<p>“I have sad news for Miss Nancy when I get +back to the Park. Her new beau is only a common +fellow after all, a relation of the Grice who has +the farm near the Abbeyland. No good at all! +She will have to set her cap at Atherton, Miss +Margaret, so you must keep on the look out to be +ahead of her.”</p> + +<p>Never had Margaret’s sweet smile of composure +been harder to maintain. Sir John’s jokes had +always been distasteful. To-day they were something +more. Her mother intervened.</p> + +<p>“You look tired, my love. You have walked +too far. Sir John will excuse you, if you will go +and rest.”</p> + +<p>Sir John, however, excused himself, and went +off with his sad news for Miss Nancy, after securing +Margaret’s promise to join in a ball at the Park +next Monday when the moon would be at its full, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>and it would be possible to collect the young people +from all parts of the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>“Sir John is a kind neighbour,” Mrs. Dashwood +remarked absently.</p> + +<p>Had she omitted to make that statement, it is +possible that Margaret would have told her of the +morning’s meeting. With Sir John’s kindness the +subject of commendation it seemed all at once +impossible. What could her mother say beyond +giving her the conventional warnings and the +obvious gentle reproof? Margaret decided that +the whole thing was too unimportant to be spoken +of. She did not intend to walk in the direction +of High-church down again and, even if she did, +it was improbable that her acquaintance would do +the same. She did not allude to the matter, but +listened with apparent interest to her mother’s +account of Thomas’s progress and Sir John’s visit.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Margaret held to her resolution not to +walk on High-church down next morning. +She found it increasingly hard to do so, and became +conscious of deeper dejection of spirits with +every hour of sunshine that passed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton came and talked of the family at +the Park, and of most of the families in the village. +If interest in other people’s affairs makes a good +parish priest, there was no doubt that he would +be an excellent one, but it was more and more +clear that the even more desirable qualities of +disinterested goodness and refined tastes were +deficient. Margaret found it almost impossible to +sit still for weariness.</p> + +<p>The next day was Sunday, and Mr. Atherton +“in the pulpit” was eagerly anticipated by the +congregation. Enough to say that he surpassed +all expectations, his own and other people’s. He +was more eloquent than he had thought possible +himself; more learned than the simple parishioners +had wished; more noisy than Sir John in his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>slumbrous moments liked; longer than Lady +Middleton approved, and even more silly than +Mrs. Dashwood and her daughter expected.</p> + +<p>Sunday afternoon was spent by Margaret +in pacing the shrubbery, and sitting with her +mother when she was too weary to continue her +exercise.</p> + +<p>Monday evening, so eagerly anticipated by other +young ladies of Sir John’s acquaintance, was +looked forward to by Margaret with quiet distaste. +She entered the ballroom without the +smallest hope of enjoyment. This is frequently +exactly the state of mind which leads to the +keenest pleasure; and, if the evening did not +afford quite that to Margaret, it was at least +amusing and interesting beyond her hopes.</p> + +<p>She was necessarily engaged to Mr. Atherton +for the first two dances and, as she performed her +task with all the grace of mind and motion she +could summon to her aid, she became aware of an +entry which made some stir in the company.</p> + +<p>“Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby” were announced, +and again she beheld the man who had once been +so familiarly known and so dearly loved by her +sister and mother. “Our dear Willoughby!” +How often she had heard him so spoken of! He +looked older, graver, but handsome, well-dressed +as ever, and again his presence and manner put +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>that of other men somewhat in the shade. Amazing +man! Wherein lay his charm? She knew him +to be faithless, mercenary, careless of other’s +good, but when he approached her at the end +of the first two dances and inquired for her +mother and sisters, his deference of bearing, his +earnestness and his wish to please overcame +at once her remembrance of the distress he +had caused. He asked her to dance, and she +complied.</p> + +<p>He spoke of Marianne, calling her by her name. +Was she happy? As beautiful as ever? Did her +son resemble her? Was she ever with her mother +at Barton? His questions came fast, as if they +had been long in his mind.</p> + +<p>She answered with what discretion she could, +but discretion was swept on one side by his eager +inquiries. She knew it to be wrong. He was a +married man—had slighted her sister for his +present wife. What right had he to such feelings? +What could he mean by so expressing them? He +did not, as a fact, mean anything. He was desirous +of having news of Marianne, and careless +as ever of appearances.</p> + +<p>Margaret could not approve, but she found his +continued infatuation for her sister in some way +engaging. They had met on High-church down. +It was but right that young men who frequented +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>the down should be deeply in love. Margaret +blushed at her thought, but continued to think +it. Light, music and graceful motion do induce +these thoughts. Perhaps balls were invented for +that very purpose.</p> + +<p>The rest of the evening was less interesting. +Mr. Atherton claimed another two dances, and a +very young Mr. Carey secured another two. Mr. +Willoughby applied to her for the last two, but +she was tired, tired of him and tired of herself. +She pleaded fatigue and sat down till Thomas, +now fully recovered, arrived with a lantern, which +the bright moonlight made unnecessary.</p> + +<p>She was glad to be again in her mother’s parlour +and to drink some soup by the fire, which the chill +of April evenings still made comfortable. Her +mother’s surprise and displeasure on hearing that +she had danced with Mr. Willoughby were soon +charmed away by her account of his conversation. +He had no right to take such liberties, but Mrs. +Dashwood was sorry for him. It was but natural +that he should still love Marianne—though it was +very wrong. It was pleasing that he should so +desire to hear of her—but she could not excuse +the affront to his wife. Mrs. Willoughby was not +at all pretty and looked very ill-tempered, Margaret +said, but that was no excuse for neglect. +All the same Mrs. Dashwood felt excuses, if she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>would not make them, and the end of it all was +that he was much to be pitied, and that Marianne +was much happier as Mrs. Brandon than she ever +could have been as Mrs. Willoughby.</p> + +<p>Margaret wondered privately if this were so.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>On Tuesday morning, after the exertion and +excitement of the ball, Margaret’s need for +fresh air and quiet exercise was excessive. She +could not remain within doors, and, once out, she +must get to the uplands. She could not be kept +for ever from her favourite walk, she argued. In +all probability her acquaintance had left the +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>At first, when she gained the heights, she thought +this must indeed be the case, for she could not +see him anywhere. He was lying on the grass +not far away. He rose at once and came towards +her with reproach in his eyes. Where had she +been? He had come here each morning during +her absence. She found herself under the necessity +of excusing herself for not having joined a stranger +on his morning walk. Her excuses were accepted, +or at least listened to, and they were off again +across the downs. Delightful companionship! +Delightful converse! Hot rooms and silly jests +seemed far away in this place of open sky and +distant prospects.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + +<p>It was a happy morning and ended, as before, +with the parting where they had first met. No +promise was made of coming again, but Margaret +felt that was understood and, though wondering +at herself as she ran down the slope, she knew that +she did not mean to fail him.</p> + +<p>Now was the time when Mrs. Dashwood must +be informed. It would not be right to keep her +longer in ignorance. Margaret resolved to tell her +mother, and perhaps she could arrange that they +should meet. He would come to the Cottage. +She was full of virtuous resolves, the performance +of which she must, however, postpone, for as she +opened the parlour door she heard the high-pitched +laughter of Mrs. Palmer, and saw that she +and her husband were sitting with Mrs. Dashwood.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Palmer was Mrs. Jennings’s younger +daughter, and consequently Lady Middleton’s +sister. Except that both had been admired as +beauties, there was no resemblance between the +sisters. Lady Middleton seldom spoke more than +was necessary, and Mrs. Palmer never stopped +talking and laughing when in company. She had +been married very young, and, if her husband +seemed a little tired of his wife’s conversation and +laughter, it was no more than other people felt +with less cause. She had her mother’s great gift +of good humour, and was really very pretty. On +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>the whole, Margaret preferred her to her chilly +sister and was usually not averse to her company. +To-day she did not want anyone, and it was an +effort to retain her composure.</p> + +<p>“My dear Miss Margaret! How glad I am we +have not missed you! It would have been shocking, +and Mr. Palmer would have been so concerned, +and so should I. Wouldn’t you, my love? +Wouldn’t you have felt it detestable if we had not +seen Miss Margaret?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Palmer turned over his newspaper.</p> + +<p>“He is so droll. He always pretends he does +not hear me, but he hears very well, I know, and +he would have been shockingly disappointed if +you were not come in. You will wonder why we +are come to Barton, though indeed we should have +been long since. I have asked and asked Mr. +Palmer to bring me, but he would not—always +some excuse—until the day before yesterday he +comes into my room, and he says, ‘Charlotte, +will you come with me to see your mother?’ +‘La, my love,’ says I, ‘you do not mean it.’ And +then it all came out. There is a Commander +Pennington, an old friend of his, staying here. +They were at school together, and he is bent on +seeing him again. I knew it was not my mother +he wanted to see, for they quarrel whenever they +meet, though I believe they like each other very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>well all the same. Well, we only arrived this +morning, and we are to go on to London to-morrow, +so there is no time to lose. Mr. Palmer +has been to see this Commander, but he was out +walking. However, we have left a note asking +him to dine up at the Park. Will you not come +too, my dear? Mr. Palmer will be so delighted +if you are one of the party, for you are a prodigious +favourite of his. My love, do help me to persuade +Miss Margaret to dine at the Park this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot persuade her if she has not been +asked, can I?” was the only encouragement Mr. +Palmer gave.</p> + +<p>“La, my love, you know Sir John would ask +her at once, and my sister would not mind whether +she came or not. You leave all that to me,” with +a burst of merriment.</p> + +<p>Margaret excused herself from accepting this +second-hand invitation on the score that she had +been at the Park the day before and, though +Mrs. Palmer laughed excessively at such a reason, +she was obliged to accept it.</p> + +<p>“Have you heard anything of the Commander?” +asked Mrs. Palmer.</p> + +<p>Margaret admitted that she had heard that he +was staying in the neighbourhood, and Mrs. Dashwood +added that she believed he had travelled +with Miss Nancy Steele.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span></p> + +<p>“La, yes, indeed! We have heard all about +that,” Mrs. Palmer agreed contemptuously, laughing +at the recollection.</p> + +<p>Mr. Palmer laid aside his paper and got up to +take leave. His wife was obliged to do as he did, +and at last they were gone.</p> + +<p>Margaret went to her room to think the situation +out. Soon they must meet at the Park. If it were +known that they had met before, who could tell +what would be said? More than she could bear +to listen to! Her mother ought to know of their +acquaintance—of that she was convinced—but it +would be easier to tell her later, when Commander +Pennington was known to her, and when his quiet +deference should have assured her that he had +taken no liberty beyond what was natural and +right.</p> + +<p>Margaret decided, though with an uneasy conscience, +to postpone talking to her mother for the +present. This was made easier by Mrs. Dashwood +retiring to her chamber with a headache, and she +herself passed the evening with no company but +the firelight and her own thoughts. Happy +thoughts and restless thoughts, that ranged from +the open down to the dining-room where they +were all collected at the Park! Would he hear +that she had been invited and had refused to +give him the meeting? Would this anger him, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>or would he, as she thought, understand? In any +case, she could hardly have accepted so careless +an invitation. She did not want to meet him +there, under the fire of comment, but it was inevitable +in the next few days. She longed for the +happy insensibility of Marianne and Willoughby, +who had never seemed to notice what anyone said, +but only what they said to each other. She recollected +herself. She was going too fast. She had +met the Commander only three times. Marianne +and Willoughby had been constantly in each +other’s society. She must not, would not, imagine +so much when so little had occurred.</p> + +<p>She took up a book and endeavoured to read. +She opened the instrument and played, until she +remembered her mother suffering in the room +above. She returned to her seat by the fire and +became again a prey to restless thoughts.</p> + +<p>Tea came in, and she took a cup to her mother. +As she descended the staircase there was a knock +at the door and, there being no time to return to +the parlour, she waited where she was while Thomas +opened the door.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Dashwood is unwell, sir. She cannot +receive visitors. Miss Margaret, sir? Step in, +sir, and I will inquire.”</p> + +<p>Margaret came down the stairs, greeted the +Commander and led him into the parlour.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span></p> + +<p>He had come, he said, to say good-bye. A post +had arrived for him, and he had got employment. +He was to be in the “Wren,” a sloop of war +cruising in the Baltic, convoying, for the next six +months. He had been dining at the Park, and +was walking back to the farm. He could not +resist coming. He would not intrude, but must +leave early on the morrow, so took this opportunity——</p> + +<p>He kept his eyes on her face anxiously, but +Margaret’s habit of composure concealed her +feelings, and he could not know what she suffered.</p> + +<p>Thomas had told Mrs. Thomas, and Mrs. Thomas +thought it her duty to inform her mistress that a +strange gentleman had called to see Miss Margaret. +Maternal feelings would no doubt have got Mrs. +Dashwood off her bed even if curiosity had failed +to do so. She occupied only a few minutes in +arranging her dress, and came down to find her +daughter and a strange man standing by the fire +together. He was holding her hand, and it seemed +not unlikely that more might follow.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood’s astonishment was very +great. It was impossible to doubt what +she saw, and equally impossible to account for +it. Margaret had hardly been away from her +during the seventeen years of her life, and how +she could possibly be on terms of intimacy with +this unknown man was a question to which there +seemed to be no answer.</p> + +<p>Margaret’s feeling on her mother’s appearance +was relief. She was very young, and unprepared +for any great decision. For the moment she had +forgotten the amazement her mother must feel, +and presented Commander Pennington to Mrs. +Dashwood with scarcely less than her usual composure. +Mrs. Dashwood could only conceal her +feelings under a manner as austere as she was +capable of assuming.</p> + +<p>There was a pause, but Commander Pennington +had the sailor’s quickness of perception and simplicity +in dealing with a situation.</p> + +<p>“I have had the happiness of meeting your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>daughter on the downs, madam, on one or two +occasions.”</p> + +<p>The word “happiness” seemed to have more +than its formal sense as he used it, but the phrase +was conventional and Mrs. Dashwood could not +object to its use. He continued:</p> + +<p>“I have received orders to join my ship immediately +and I leave here to-morrow. I called this +evening to say good-bye.”</p> + +<p>He finished with an air of having entirely +explained his visit at eight o’clock in the evening +at a house where he was a stranger. Nothing, it +appeared, could be more reasonable and proper +than that he should be there, and be found by her +mother holding Margaret’s hand.</p> + +<p>He sketched out for them his probable employment +in the Baltic, convoying merchantmen past +the Danish coast to the Island of Rügen. He +hoped to be on shore again in about six months, +when he would have the happiness of seeing them +again.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood found herself included in his +cheerful friendliness, and it was not in her nature +to do less than smile, and murmur something +which he could take as acquiescence. Margaret +meanwhile sat silent. She was happy, in a quiet +glow of content. His going seemed remote and +he was giving her more and more the belief that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>she would be his object in coming again. He sat +with them for half an hour, conversing with Mrs. +Dashwood, whose manner by degrees softened, +until at parting she gave him her hand and wished +him well. To Margaret he turned as he went out, +and, taking her hand, he pressed it and said in a +half-audible tone:</p> + +<p>“I will come back. You will wait, will you +not?” He was gone.</p> + +<p>Margaret knew that her mother had a right to +an explanation, but to give it seemed beyond her +powers. Her mind was agitated, and she longed +for solitude and silence. Mrs. Dashwood did not +return to her room, but took up her needlework. +She did not say anything, but her whole attitude +was an unspoken question.</p> + +<p>Margaret began with hesitation:</p> + +<p>“I do not know him at all well. We just met +once or twice on the downs. It was strange of him +to call.”</p> + +<p>What could the tenderest of mothers say to +that? Mrs. Dashwood felt her sympathy checked +and resorted to quiet reproach.</p> + +<p>“But, my Margaret, I do not understand how +you came to make his acquaintance. I fear I +have allowed you too much freedom. Why have +you not told me of your meetings with this man?”</p> + +<p>“I do not think that there was anything worth +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>telling about them. I am sorry he disturbed you +when you had a headache.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was angered. Her daughter had +concealed from her what was undoubtedly of +moment, and now parried her questions with something +like insincerity. She sat with a grave face, +employing herself with her needlework, and Margaret +sat beside her engaged only with her thoughts. +She wanted her mother’s sympathy, but felt unable +to ask for it. All these explanations that were, +she supposed, necessary, all this surprise and blame +must come first, and all she wanted was to understand +and be understood. “Wait!” What could +she wait for but one thing only? What could that +be but the offer of his hand? He had better have +left it unsaid. It was at once too much and too +little. Not enough to give her confidence and too +much for her peace of mind.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood’s thoughts were sadder because +more experienced. She was a woman whose ardent +nature led her to depths as well as heights, and she +was now reflecting with gravity on her own failures +in life. She had failed with Elinor. All through +Elinor’s anxieties about Edward and his engagement +to Lucy Steele, she had not known of her daughter’s +trouble. She had been impatient with her, thought +her cold and unfeeling, and sympathized with +Marianne, who said what she had only thought. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>Elinor loved her, she knew, in spite of all, but that +was to Elinor’s credit, not to her own. Then with +Marianne, how she had encouraged her in her +attachment to the faithless Willoughby! How +ill-judged she had been in allowing him such +frequent opportunities! All the sorrow of Marianne’s +disappointment she laid at her own door. It was +her fault entirely. True, Marianne adored her +mother, and was the most devoted of daughters +when they were together, but that was all due to +Marianne’s loving nature. She herself deserved +only reprobation. Now her Margaret concealed +from her, almost lied to her, rather than be troubled +with her sympathy, and she herself was uncertain +whether to sympathize or to blame were the better +course. Either might be as mistaken as anything +she had ever done. Mrs. Dashwood’s tears began +to flow, and instant relief was the result. She +glanced aside at Margaret and something in her +attitude suggested that she too wept.</p> + +<p>When two ladies who have an affection for one +another weep at the same time and for the same +cause, and the cause is none other than their fear +of being unkind to one another, a reconcilement +is not far away. A very few moments passed +before there were a few gentle embraces, more +tears, and Mrs. Dashwood and her daughter were +once more in each other’s confidence.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> + +<p>Margaret kept nothing back—as she had said, +there was very little to make known, and Mrs. +Dashwood put all reproach resolutely behind her, +and was tenderly sympathetic. For that evening +all was peace and happiness for both of them, +and Margaret went to sleep that night with the +thought of her mother’s affection mingling with the +words:</p> + +<p>“I will come back. You will wait, will you +not?”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Margaret’s first feeling on awaking next +morning was relief that her mother now +knew all. There had been very little to know +or to conceal, but it was a comfort to feel that +the reason for her reticence—the apprehension +of being talked over at Barton Park—was understood. +Mrs. Dashwood was quite ready to seem +satisfied by this explanation, though she felt herself +at liberty to think what more she chose.</p> + +<p>Margaret, by her confidence and by her tears, +had ensured herself against any further reproach +from Mrs. Dashwood. She was not, however, +ensured against discomfort from other causes. +No sooner was breakfast over than Sir John’s +loud voice, Mrs. Jennings’s cheerful talking, and +Mrs. Palmer’s hearty laughter were heard in the +hall. Mrs. Jennings could not resist coming to +see how Miss Margaret looked after parting with +her new beau.</p> + +<p>“The Commander is a very fine young man, +my dear, though he has such low connections and +no fortune to speak of. A good riddance, I say, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>Mrs. Dashwood! He would not do for Miss Margaret +at all, but I will not deny that he is agreeable. +Mr. Palmer and he were at it hammer and tongs +with their politics and their this and their that. +I never heard Mr. Palmer say so much before.”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s only reply was a smile, harder to +assume than when young Mr. Carey or Mr. Atherton +was the beau referred to. She could not conceive +how so much was known, but would not make a +single inquiry. It could not be long before something +intelligible was uttered when so much was +being said by three people all at once.</p> + +<p>It was Mrs. Palmer who enlightened her.</p> + +<p>“My mother is always for making a joke, but +you know we did think it strange when Commander +Pennington described you, and asked where you +lived. There was something about a scarf to be +returned, I think. I did not understand it all. +It seems your scarf blew away and he caught it. +I hope you have it safe again.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Margaret, “it was returned to +me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Mrs. Jennings, “but that was +only the beginning of your acquaintance. And +now he is gone, and that had better be the end, +Miss Margaret. We cannot have you taken all +over the world, when there are several near at +hand who would like to keep you here.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood endeavoured to lead the conversation +away from Margaret by inquiring as to the +intimacy between Mr. Palmer and Commander +Pennington. Mrs. Palmer was delighted to be the +chief talker, and related how they had been at +the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth together, +but that Mr. Palmer had succeeded to the property. +So it had ended in his not going into the navy +after all, and very glad she was of it, as to have a +husband at sea would be a shocking thing. She +laughed merrily at the thought, and was still more +amused at the idea that with the war still going +on there would have been danger of her becoming +a widow.</p> + +<p>“But of course I should never have married +him at all in that case, so I should not have minded +it in the least, except that of course I should not +have liked to be an old maid.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Palmer, having been thus providentially +spared from early widowhood and perpetual spinsterhood +by the circumstance of Mr. Palmer not +having entered the navy, was naturally against +that profession. She had much to say of its +evils, and recounted with hearty laughter the +hardships that she knew to be the lot of a naval +officer’s wife.</p> + +<p>She was on her way to London. Mr. Palmer +would call for her almost immediately. The House +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>was sitting, and he had his duties as a member. +She called specially to know if Mrs. Dashwood +had any message for her son and his wife, as she +would be very happy to convey it. Mrs. Dashwood +was firm that she had no such message to send. +She had written to them a day or two ago, and +had nothing to add to what she had then written.</p> + +<p>Sir John and Mrs. Jennings were warm in giving +the usual invitation to dinner. It was urgent +in this case, as the loss of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer +would leave them disconsolate, a party of five, +when only yesterday they had sat down eight +to dinner. Mrs. Dashwood could not be so cruel +as to refuse.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was, however, deaf to all calls +of humanity, and would have excused her daughter +also, but Margaret, seeing clearly that any reluctance +on her part to go into society would be +construed as “wearing the willow,” accepted with +seeming satisfaction, and Sir John and Mrs. Jennings +returned to the Park easy in their minds +that Mr. Atherton’s chances were as good as +ever.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Palmer remained to chatter for half an hour +till her chaise arrived, to give Margaret repeated +invitations to join her in London, all of which +were steadily declined, and to recount over and +over again the sayings and doings of her son, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>only four years old, but already famed for his wit +and beauty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Palmer came. Margaret would have liked +to hear something of his friendships at the Royal +Naval Academy, but he had very little to say +beyond grumbling at the weather and the roads. +Mrs. Dashwood congratulated him on having +effected a meeting with his friend, and he replied +that it had been very agreeable. He further +volunteered that he wished there were more like +Pennington, but that was all; and the couple +soon drove off, Mrs. Palmer laughing and waving +till she was out of sight.</p> + +<p>Margaret hardened her mind as she dressed for +her dinner engagement that afternoon. She would +not pay any attention to their jokes, and she +would not understand their questions. She was +prepared for much discomfort which she would +bear with a smiling face. In the event it was not +so bad. As before, Miss Nancy Steele had much +to say, and had no idea that Commander Pennington +was to be interested in anyone but herself. +The Commander and the Doctor took up about +the same space in her mind and Mr. Atherton +had all the rest. Margaret found that she had +no need for defence against jocularity, as all the +wit was to be expended elsewhere. Mr. Atherton +sat next her and was attentive, but his gallantry +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>took the form of praising her music, and this +gave her an excuse to pass most of the time after +dinner at the instrument. It was a fine one and +to play on it gave her real pleasure.</p> + +<p>As Lady Middleton, who was fond of cards, +was able to get up a rubber, and Sir John had been +out all the morning and was glad to get some +sleep, the party may be said to have been productive +of more enjoyment than is usual at such +gatherings. There was no one who had not some +degree of happiness, and even Miss Nancy Steele, +who had Mrs. Jennings for a partner, and would +have preferred Mr. Atherton, was consoled by +winning three shillings, which would just pay for +the new pink ribbons she wished to purchase +in time for her next meeting with the Doctor.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The next few weeks passed without any particular +incident to vary their monotony. The +summer was a fine one, much of the time was +spent out of doors, and, though Margaret might +wish for a walking companion, nothing at all was +said about it.</p> + +<p>The parsonage was now ready for Mr. Atherton, +and he went there from the Park early in July. +Hardly a day had passed without his calling at +the Cottage, and Mrs. Dashwood had come to +regard his visits as inevitable and therefore no +subject for complaint. He talked too much and +had very little sense, but he was an amiable man, +and she had come to that time of life when for an +acquaintance to be amiable is held to be a recommendation. +She felt, or imagined she felt, that +she liked people to be dull rather than disagreeable, +and uninteresting rather than bad-tempered, and, +though it is no doubt regrettable that these opinions +are so often held by people of forty years of age +and upwards, there may be something to be said +for their point of view.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> + +<p>As Margaret had foreseen, Mr. Atherton was +now considered to be entitled to Mrs. Dashwood’s +patient attention, and Margaret herself, whatever +she might feel of weariness, treated him with +steady gentleness. That she did not believe herself +to be thereby giving him what is called encouragement +was due to her being without the +suspicion of his desiring anything in particular.</p> + +<p>The day came, however, when his wishes were +to be made known to her. He arrived one morning +with a special request to make. It was that the +ladies should lay aside their occupations to walk +with him to the parsonage and explore the house +and gardens.</p> + +<p>“There is much still to be done to both, and +I feel the touch of a lady’s hand is needed to make +the house all that it should be. It is to me a little +bleak and bare, and, though I have plans for +its improvement, I want to have your sanction, +your agreement in what I propose. Your +taste and discernment are needed both within and +without.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood professed herself very happy to +put her taste and discernment, such as they were, +at Mr. Atherton’s service. Margaret, as usual, said +nothing, but it did appear that her silent consent +was needed for the proposed improvements. Their +work was laid aside, their walking dresses put on, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>and they were ready to accompany the young man. +Before they left the house he turned to survey the +parlour, and said with enthusiasm:</p> + +<p>“If I could but achieve this look of home, this +air of peaceful industry, in my own house, how +happy should I be!”</p> + +<p>This admiration for Barton Cottage must have +been increased by his daily visits, for it could not +be forgotten that his first comments had been +mingled with dispraise. There was something +forced about so much admiration, and to Mrs. +Dashwood’s mind there had been more sincerity +at first, if less good manners.</p> + +<p>He continued in this strain of laborious gallantry +as they walked to the parsonage. Mrs. Dashwood +became uneasy. She feared to look at Margaret +lest she should be unable to continue to listen +with suitable gravity, and it was a relief when they +turned in at the garden gate and had something +definite to attend to.</p> + +<p>The garden was very well laid out, with a hen-run +and a shrubbery, and apple trees and a rubbish +heap, all most convenient. No detail escaped +observation, and the garden alone occupied the +best part of an hour. They were then led indoors. +Fruit and cake were ready on the sideboard in the +dining-room, and the rest and refreshment were +indeed welcome. The ladies were tired out. Such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>continual admiration had been demanded of them +that they would have been thankful to see something +that merited disapproval. But no such +relief was to be theirs. The standard of excellence +of the house was even higher than that of the +garden, and everything must come under their +notice. Margaret began to wonder if even the +mousetraps in the back larder would escape comment. +The brass toasting-fork and the fire-screens, +the foot-stools and the wool-work mats had all +received their due, and Mrs. Dashwood lingered +behind in the linen-room to examine some fine +table-cloths which attracted her.</p> + +<p>Margaret was taken on to the study, and walked +up to the book-shelves, in the contents of which +she felt real interest. To her astonishment she +found herself ardently addressed by her host, her +hand taken in both of his, and an urgently-worded +proposal of marriage laid before her. In a speech +of great length, which must have cost him some +pains to compose and memorize, he was asking her +to become the mistress of the house in which they +were standing.</p> + +<p>He argued that their tastes were similar, their +ideas in unison, and their prospect of happiness +very great. She would be settled near her mother, +for whom he had an abiding deference. Her indoor +pursuits and her outdoor pastimes would be equally +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>considered, and she would find that in her own +domain she would be paramount. His arguments +were excellent, and he evidently knew his oration +by heart, for he never faltered in its delivery or +allowed her to interpose any objection. He paused +at length and waited for her reply.</p> + +<p>She gently declined his offer and begged to be +allowed to rejoin her mother. He was not only +disappointed, he was surprised, and was preparing +to repeat some of his representations when Mrs. +Dashwood came into the room, and further protest +was impossible. They almost immediately took +leave, and to their relief Mr. Atherton only accompanied +them as far as the garden gate.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was quickly told of the offer. +Margaret was regretful at giving pain, but surprised +at the necessity. She had not thought him attached +to her for the reason that she did not think him +sufficiently indifferent to wealth and position to +wish for a wife with so small a fortune. She did +not believe him to have any real regard for her. +She had therefore paid little attention to his show +of admiration, and none at all to the hints thrown +out by Mrs. Jennings. However, the offer had +been made, and had been declined, and it remained +to be seen whether Mr. Atherton’s desire for +sympathy would be stronger than his pride; +whether he would let his disappointment be known +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>at the Park, or whether he would keep it to himself.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the distress was not so great as to +require condolences. Perhaps his vanity preferred +secrecy to pity. Perhaps some other cause was +at work, but to Margaret’s relief it became evident +that nothing had been said at the Park, and in +many ways it appeared certain that Mr. Atherton +had accepted her decision as final.</p> + +<p>Often when we think we are safe, calamity is +near at hand. Not many days had passed before +Mrs. Dashwood and Margaret, returning from their +walk, found John Dashwood awaiting them. He +was standing by the window, and they could see +the annoyance on his face as they turned in at the +gate. He was staying at the parsonage, he replied, +in answer to Mrs. Dashwood’s ready offer of +hospitality. He had merely called in to inquire. +He did not immediately say what was to be the +extent of his inquiries, but it was clear from his +expression that something more than their health +was involved.</p> + +<p>It soon became evident to Margaret that nothing +more would be said of his mission so long as she +remained in the room. Mr. Dashwood replied to +all questions and remarks in monosyllables, and +occupied the intervals by looking at her with +patent displeasure. She therefore excused herself +on the plea of changing her walking dress, and left +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>her mother to listen to whatever it was that John +had to impart.</p> + +<p>He did not begin at once. Possibly the subject +was harder to open than he had expected. It was +evident that he was angry, and uncertain whether +he were rightly so.</p> + +<p>“I hope you are pleased with the work done at +the parsonage, and that you find Mr. Atherton is +satisfied,” said Mrs. Dashwood in the course of +her polite inquiries.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dashwood replied that it was the dissatisfaction +felt by Mr. Atherton, and imparted to himself +and Fanny by letter, that had brought him hither.</p> + +<p>“My sister is young,” he went on, with an air +of making every allowance possible. “She cannot +be expected to foresee the future. It therefore +behoves us to help her in her decision. It cannot, +I think, be your wish that she should decline Mr. +Atherton’s addresses. She is unlikely, living as she +does in retirement, to have such an offer made to +her again. Perhaps she is not aware—Mr. Atherton +is not of a boastful disposition, and it is probable +that she is not aware—that he has a private income +in addition to the living and that his expectations +are very good. There are several unmarried aunts +in good circumstances, and an uncle, also unmarried, +who is even wealthy. Margaret would, +in all probability, become a rich woman in time. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>Meanwhile with her small fortune, augmented as +Fanny and I suggest, they would be very passably +comfortable. Their income would be more than +half that of my sister, Elinor, although she married +Fanny’s own brother. Yes, decidedly Margaret +would be in a better position in some ways! Her +expectations would be better, and she would be +marrying with the good wishes and approval of +all concerned, which, as you recollect, my dear +madam, was not unhappily the case of Elinor and +poor Edward Ferrars. They were honoured by +your approval, I am aware, but the grief felt by +his excellent and affectionate mother was very +distressing. But enough of that! What is done +cannot be undone! In Margaret’s case no such +objection would arise. I think it possible that in +good time she might be as rich as Marianne, or +even more so, if she succeeded in becoming a +favourite with Mr. Atherton’s relations. I feel +sure that all this has not been laid before her. +Possibly you yourself are not aware of it. I blame +myself for not having made the matter clearer in +a letter which I had the honour of writing to you +on the subject. But it is not too late! I have +secured from Mr. Atherton the promise that, if +he is assured that his proposals will be accepted, +he will renew them. This he has definitely agreed +to, and his only stipulation is that he should be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>informed of the alteration in my sister’s mind at +once, or at least during the ensuing week. After +that time he will consider himself at liberty to +pay his addresses in another quarter. So, madam, +there is no time to be lost if we are to secure this +admirable settlement for my sister, and I beg you +to use your influence on our behalf.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood had made no attempt to reply. +No opportunity to do so had been given her, but +now he paused. She reminded him that he had +said that this marriage would have the approval +of all concerned. She could not agree. It would +not have her own approval. She considered Mr. +Atherton a very agreeable good sort of man, but +not one likely to make her daughter happy. Margaret’s +inability to accept his proposals had her +approval. The marriage could only take place +against her wishes.</p> + +<p>This seemed to her to be as strong a statement +as was required. John Dashwood, however, did +not think so. She had no wealth to enforce her +arguments. She made no threat of cutting Margaret +out of her will, and even had she done so +it would be a matter of minor importance to a +young lady favoured by the prospect of such a +settlement in life. Obedience to maternal authority +could not be expected when so little was to be +gained by it. He therefore renewed his arguments, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>reinforcing them by the information that the elder +Mrs. Ferrars had heard of Margaret’s prospects +and highly approved, and even contemplated sending +a wedding present, and that Fanny had written +to Lady Middleton begging her kind offices in the +matter.</p> + +<p>The knowledge that Lady Middleton would +certainly take no notice of such a request was +Mrs. Dashwood’s only consolation. John and his +wife were capable of angering her more deeply +than any others of her acquaintance. She resented +the difference in their thoughts and feelings the +more on account of their relationship to her +daughters, and she sometimes felt that she would +be thankful indeed could she be sure of never seeing +or hearing of them again; and that even an open +quarrel would be welcome if it could bring about +so complete a misunderstanding as must end their +intimacy.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>John Dashwood’s visit to the parsonage +was not yet over. He was still making daily +demands on the civility and patience of the inmates +of Barton Cottage, when such welcome guests +arrived as must lessen the disagreeables of his +visits. Their circle was enlarged, their conversation +improved, and their tempers relieved by the +arrival of Elinor and Edward Ferrars. It was a +joyful meeting. The influence of Elinor’s calm +and balanced mind was just what her mother +required, wearied and irritated as she had been for +the last few days.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood did not intend to confide her +deeper anxieties to Elinor, but it was not long +before she had done so, and Elinor was put in +possession of all that Mrs. Dashwood knew of +Margaret’s intimacy with Commander Pennington.</p> + +<p>Elinor much disapproved of all she heard. +Margaret clearly had been very indiscreet and, +she feared, rather sly in concealment. She looked +grave, and gave no encouragement to be happy +to her mother, who had therefore to supply +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>all arguments for cheerfulness herself, and did so +to good purpose, representing that Margaret knew +him so slightly it was impossible that she should +be much affected, and, at the same time, he was +so agreeable a man that a marriage between them +would be highly satisfactory; that six months +at least must pass before they met again, which +was time enough for them either to change their +minds or to make them up, whichever process +were desirable; that he had no doubt enough +money to marry on, but that Elinor herself must +know that money was not an essential for happiness. +In fact, she argued all ways at once, and +the only circumstance that seemed certain and +fixed was that Margaret was to be happy and that +all was for the best.</p> + +<p>Elinor listened, glad that her mother should be +able to console herself, but privately deeply concerned +at what she considered to be unwise. She +determined to bring the subject up with her sister, +and to let it be known how much she feared an +unhappy ending to the affair.</p> + +<p>In the meantime she was able to give all the +sympathy that was desired over the annoyance +of her brother’s interference. Mr. Atherton seemed +to her a very poor figure of a parish priest. She +had always before her the idea of Edward, so +generous and devoted in his work, so refined in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>mind, unworldly and of such genuine goodness +that the type of clergyman of which Mr. Atherton +seemed to be an example was altogether disgusting +to her. She warmly supported her sister and +mother in their dislike of him, and John Dashwood, +who could get nothing but calm disagreement +and denials from Mrs. Dashwood, was even +more daunted to find that Elinor was no more open +to reason than his mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>He had no wish to offend anyone, and presently +gave up his self-imposed task of getting Margaret +a husband with the warning that he was by no +means prepared to endow her choice or that of +her mother, as he would have endowed his own. +Mrs. Dashwood seemed hardly to regard this loss +of five hundred pounds. Indeed, the only way +to be sure that she had fully understood the matter +was to repeat his ultimatum more than once. +He returned to Norland Park unsuccessful in his +errand, but at least, as he told Fanny, he had +carried out his father’s last injunctions to take +care of his sisters and, as the event had turned +out, might regard himself as richer by five hundred +pounds.</p> + +<p>Elinor made an early opportunity to get Margaret +alone, with the intention of taxing her with her +indiscretion and undue reticence. She began by +inviting Margaret to walk with her on High-church +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>down. There was something unexpected about +this to Margaret, just enough to put her slightly +on the defensive. Elinor’s choice of a walk was +more often along a road and with some definite +good object in view. To-day, however, though the +excellent intention was not lacking, she chose +the heights. It was a deliberate choice. She +wished to recall to Margaret’s thoughts Marianne’s +folly and its melancholy conclusion. She had not +reckoned with other visions, other ideas which +filled Margaret’s mind almost to the exclusion of +all else.</p> + +<p>Elinor began by reminding her sister of the day +of Willoughby’s appearance. Margaret was much +surprised at such a subject being introduced. She +had been considered as a child by her two sisters, +and had met with such severe rebuffs from Elinor +on this subject that the idea of discussing the love +affairs of one sister with the other was altogether +distasteful to her. She listened politely to Elinor’s +account of the surprise felt by her mother and +herself when Willoughby came into the house with +Marianne in his arms. Elinor said that she herself +had almost immediately felt the deepest uneasiness. +Marianne had been so powerfully attracted, the +young man was so easily attached; in fact, the +whole thing was too light, too casual to be lasting. +Elinor, it seemed, had always known this, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>had tried to warn Marianne and her mother, +but they had disregarded her. If such a case +were again to come under her notice she would +be able to give the same warnings with a deeper +urgency. She could now almost say that she +knew how unlikely such a situation was to bring +about domestic happiness such as she herself +enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Margaret listened, agreed, deplored the lack of +caution shown by Marianne and the instability +of Willoughby, when called upon to do so; agreed +again as to the dangers of such intimacies; agreed +further that they should be discouraged. Elinor +could find no loophole, nothing on which to fasten +an inquiry. Nothing but agreement! If Margaret +had ever had any idea of confiding in her sister +this manner of approach would have decided her +against it. She had absolutely nothing to say on +the subject.</p> + +<p>Elinor bore this in silence for some time, and +then, remembering how much trouble might have +been spared them if Marianne had been induced +to make some statement, she tried again, this +time with rather more success.</p> + +<p>“Mamma tells me, Margaret, that you have lately +made the acquaintance of a certain Commander +Pennington.”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s colour was brighter as she agreed again.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>“Mamma is anxious about it. She does not +think the acquaintance a wise one. She does +not think he has much stability of character.”</p> + +<p>Elinor was more justified in making this statement +than seemed likely. Mrs. Dashwood had +said much on all sides of the matter in her perturbation, +and it was true that she had expressed +some such fear. It was one among many fears; +but to Margaret it seemed more. To her it appeared +as the considered opinion of her mother on him +whom she immediately felt to be her lover. She +waited a moment, and then replied quietly that +she considered it impossible for either her mother +or herself to form an opinion of Commander +Pennington’s character. The acquaintance was +a slight one, and might never be renewed.</p> + +<p>Elinor felt it impossible to continue the conversation; +but she had said enough—more than +enough—to make up Margaret’s mind. She was +now definitely determined that she would marry +Commander Pennington if he asked her, and as +definitely certain that she very much wished he +would so do.</p> + +<p>Margaret owed this self-knowledge to her sister’s +interference, and felt that she would have had +more peace of mind without it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Sir John Middleton was so fond of parties +that not many days were ever allowed to +elapse without his forming some plan to bring +young people together. His activities were very +well thought of in general, and it was perhaps +only the family at Barton Cottage, who were +perforce included in all his schemes, who wished +him less hospitable and enterprising.</p> + +<p>The occasion of Elinor and Edward Ferrars +staying at Barton Cottage must receive some +special mark of attention from the Park. They +dined there as a matter of course, and they drank +tea there on the next day, but these entertainments, +though they seemed to be sufficient to the +Ferrars, were to Sir John the merest foreshadowing +of the delights he had in store for them. There +was to be a picnic, a ball, and if possible theatricals, +and all were set on foot with eagerness.</p> + +<p>The picnic was the most easily arranged. They +would all walk or drive next Monday to the Priory +and eat a cold collation there among the ruins. +The Careys and the Whitakers were to be invited, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>and they would all be together and better able to +plan for future happiness.</p> + +<p>Monday came, and was not more unsuitable for +picnicking than July days usually are. The air +was mild, the rain only slight and intermittent, +and the ground not particularly wet. It was a +pleasant day for walking, and the party from +Barton decided to walk as the ruins were little +more than a mile distant. The Careys had farther +to come and would drive or ride. Only the youngers +of this family were to be expected. Sir Francis +and Lady Carey were disinclined to leave their +home occupations whenever Sir John Middleton +wanted a little company, but the young people +would arrive in satisfactory numbers, Walter +Carey, who would be the next baronet, his two +elder sisters, and his two younger sisters in charge +of their governess. The Whitakers, a middle-aged +couple with a son and a daughter, had accepted +and would certainly drive.</p> + +<p>The Barton party was the largest. Sir John +and Lady Middleton and their children, Mrs. +Jennings and Miss Steele, reinforced by Mr. Atherton +and the four from Barton Cottage would +have made a very respectable picnic-party without +the distant neighbours who had been +asked to join them, but Sir John delighted in +numbers, and considered any gathering that consisted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>of less than twenty persons as lamentably +small.</p> + +<p>The party were to meet at noon, enjoy the cold +viands that Lady Middleton provided, explore the +ruins, and discuss the theatricals. Anyone who +had any ideas on the subject was to produce them, +and between them all something good would be +decided.</p> + +<p>Lady Middleton was to drive with the children +and baskets, and Mr. Atherton was active in getting +them seated in the carriage and the baskets handed +in. Several small jokes passed between him and +Annamaria, and William wished him to drive with +them. Amidst much that was affected in him, +his liking for children seemed as genuine as their +affection for him, and Lady Middleton smiled on +him with extreme graciousness. She had felt +hitherto not the slightest inconvenience from the +continued intimacy with the new incumbent, and +now began to think him a positive acquisition. +He watched the carriage start to overtake the main +body, already on their way. Sir John escorted +Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor. Margaret had the +society of Mrs. Jennings and Miss Steele, which +suited her very well, as they did all the necessary +talking. Mr. Atherton found that Edward Ferrars +had remained behind to walk with him.</p> + +<p>It was natural that they should fall into some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>talk, some comparison of their parishes. Barton +seemed to have the advantage in some ways. It +was smaller. There was less visiting to be done +among the poorer parishioners. The income was +slightly larger, but it was annoying to find that +the parsonage at Delaford did seem to be superior +in size, and in extent of grounds, and that, though +the Barton vicarage had been altered and improved, +it did not appear that it was in any way equal. +Mr. Atherton expressed some surprise at hearing +of so fine a house, but added that he supposed +Mrs. Edward Ferrars’s fortune must be an assistance +to her husband in maintaining such a style of +living.</p> + +<p>Edward was puzzled. Elinor’s fortune was no +more than the thousand pounds inherited from +her grand-uncle, and he was at a loss to understand +why it should be supposed to be considerable. +He hesitated, remarked coldly that the Miss Dashwoods +had not been wealthy, and began to talk +of the best breeds of cattle. Mr. Atherton became +more or less silent, that is, he replied when Edward +asked questions, but originated nothing himself. +He was thinking, and the sum of his thoughts +was that the late rebuff might be all for the best. +He did not feel much affection for Margaret if +she were without fortune. He liked her very +well, and admired her more than any other lady +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>of his acquaintance, but he now felt quite satisfied +with the turn affairs had taken. During that +walk to the Priory, while discussing short-horns +with Mr. Ferrars, he finally withdrew his pretensions +to Margaret’s hand.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Margaret, unaware of her loss, +walked beside Mrs. Jennings and heard the flow +of joking and laughter which she kept up with +Miss Steele, and thought of something quite +different.</p> + +<p>The Careys had arrived at the Priory before +them, but nothing could be done about unpacking +the baskets till the Whitakers should be there. +The time must be spent in exploring the ruins, +and strolling about in twos and threes. Margaret +was easily induced by Walter Carey to climb the +remains of an old tower, and from thence to obtain +a fine view of the country. It was a delightful +exercise with just enough of effort and danger +to make it entertaining, and to make his steadying +hand acceptable. She enjoyed the small adventure, +and found Walter an agreeable companion. +He was just returned home from Oxford, was well-read +and sufficiently talkative, and added the +advantage of an agreeable person to those of an +easy manner and an intelligent mind. They +returned to the main party well pleased with themselves +and with each other.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> + +<p>The party were now collected. Mr. and Mrs. +Whitaker and Mrs. Jennings seemed to find great +pleasure in meeting, and were settled with Mrs. +Dashwood on a bank sheltered from the breeze +by a corner of ancient wall. Lady Middleton +overlooked the unpacking of the baskets, which +was being done by Elinor and Isabella Carey, +while Penelope Carey and Mary Whitaker carried +round the trays of cakes and glasses. Sir John +was joking with Miss Steele, and cutting up veal +pies, and Henry Whitaker handed plates.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton had arranged the children round +a fallen stone as table with the Careys’ governess +at one end, and himself at the other, and had +piled the table with the good things. This looked +the most cheerful corner, but Margaret was not +invited to join them. Walter found a seat for her +under an arch, and Edward strolled up to tell +her that he supposed she knew that she looked +very picturesque, like a saint in a window, or +something of that sort. She was used to his +brotherly teasing, and made some suitable replies +at about the level of the wit that is usual at +these gatherings, when no one says anything +that they, or any others consider worth a second +thought.</p> + +<p>It was all very agreeable, and the rain held off +surprisingly. Every one declared that they ate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>twice as much in the open air as they did at home, +and wondered why they did not come here more +often; and got rather sleepy, and then rather +restless—and at last it must be time to go home.</p> + +<p>“But this will never do,” cried Sir John. “We +have decided nothing about the play.”</p> + +<p>“How charming it would be if we could have +it here!” exclaimed Isabella Carey. “What a +background that fine Norman arch would be! +Surely there is some play that would suit these +surroundings?”</p> + +<p>“Hamlet” and “Macbeth” were suggested, but +Sir John wanted something with more in it to +amuse.</p> + +<p>“How about ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ or +that laughable play of Mr. Sheridan’s, ‘The Rivals’ +I think it’s called, or ‘The School of Rivals,’ or +something of the sort?”</p> + +<p>These, however, were ruled out. Walter Carey +was firm that a ruined church was not the right +setting for them.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, much better have it in the Park +grounds!” said Sir John. “There is a nice open +space not too far from the house, with trees and a +flight of steps that would make a scene to suit +anything.”</p> + +<p>A few drops of rain began to fall and Lady +Middleton, in fear for her children catching cold, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>hurriedly suggested that all should return to the +Park, look at the place Sir John described, and +talk over all the details under cover. Wraps were +hastily found, and the party set off with utmost +expedition for the Park.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Walking or driving, it was not long before +the whole party reached the Park. The +first half-hour was occupied in strolling about the +grounds between two showers to make up their +minds where the theatre should be.</p> + +<p>Several admirable spots were discovered, but +no decision could be reached until every one came +together again in the large drawing-room. Acting +out of doors seemed a very imprudent scheme to +some of the elders, but there was a strong body of +optimists who held to the idea; and, as they were +warmly supported by Sir John, a pastoral play it +was to be.</p> + +<p>“We had a pastoral play at Oxford last term, in +Worcester Gardens,” said Walter Carey. “We +played ‘Comus.’”</p> + +<p>“‘Comus’?” called out Sir John. “What’s +‘Comus’?”</p> + +<p>“‘Comus’ is a masque,” replied Walter.</p> + +<p>“The very thing,” proclaimed Sir John. “There +will be some fun about that! We will play ‘Comus.’ +How many parts are there?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> + +<p>Walter Carey was very willing for it to be +“Comus.” He thought he could play the leading +rôle better than the man who had the part +at Oxford, and at least would like the opportunity +to try. Sir John’s expectation of something +funny might be inconvenient, but something +to please him could no doubt be managed in the +rout.</p> + +<p>No one had anything to urge against “Comus,” +and for the same reason could say nothing in +its favour. Excepting Walter, Margaret and +Henry Whitaker, no one knew anything about +it. However, Sir John’s enthusiasm for the unknown +carried the company along with him, and +“Comus” was unanimously chosen for the play.</p> + +<p>The next thing was to decide the parts, and for +this a copy of the play was desirable. It was +feared by Sir John that Walter would have the +only copy in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>“Not at all, sir,” replied Walter. “Surely there +is a Milton in your library.”</p> + +<p>“Milton!” said Sir John, his enthusiasm rather +dashed. “I did not know it was by Milton. I +thought he only wrote long poems about the Garden +of Eden?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, sir,” again replied Walter. “He +wrote some plays and political pamphlets as well—quite +a secular writer in his way.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + +<p>This reassured Sir John, and Margaret, who had +made more use of the Park library than anyone +else had ever done, offered to fetch the volume +of Milton containing “Comus,” and returned with +a book no more dusty than might be expected +considering it had been undisturbed for we know +not how many years.</p> + +<p>“You had better take the part you did before, +Walter; it will save you the trouble of learning a +new one,” said Sir John.</p> + +<p>Walter blushed and hesitated, and then admitted +that he had been the Lady at Oxford and would +prefer some other part.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Carey had better be Comus,” said Margaret. +“It is by far the longest part, and he must +already be familiar with the whole play, so could +learn it easily.”</p> + +<p>Walter was grateful for this suggestion, and +every one else was willing that he should have a +long part to learn.</p> + +<p>“Excellent,” said Sir John. “And you had +better be stage-manager too, and put us all in the +way of it. For, except for charades, I have never +done anything of the sort. Just give me a part +in which I can make some noise and get a few +laughs out of the audience, and you can divide all +the long speeches between you.”</p> + +<p>It was necessary to get the opinions of the rest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>of the party before going further. Miss Steele +liked acting excessively, but never could remember +her words. Lady Middleton stipulated only that +there should be parts for William and dear little +Annamaria, and of course for John, as they +would be inconsolable if they were not included. +Henry Whitaker looked urgent, hoping he would +not be left out, but said nothing, and the young +ladies all thought one of the others should be the +heroine. Edward Ferrars was applied to, but said +he did not think acting suited to the dignity of +the cloth, and Mr. Atherton replied that he would +like to be employed as prompter. Elinor Ferrars +said decisively that she wished to be one of the +audience.</p> + +<p>Walter found himself expected to allot parts +to five ladies, five children counting his own little +sisters, Sir John, Henry and himself, and to give +pleasure to all of them in doing so. It was an +anxious half-hour for the young man, but he came +through it with creditable success, though his +opening words were not auspicious. He had to +announce that there were only two parts for the +ladies, the Lady and Sabrina. He began by +suggesting that Margaret should be the Lady. +Miss Steele bridled, but the two Miss Careys and +Miss Whitaker united in acclaiming this choice, +though Isabella Carey’s face lengthened and Miss +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>Whitaker appeared surprised. Margaret, however, +would not consent. If Mr. Walter Carey was +to be Comus, it would be best that one of his +sisters should be the Lady. They would have +many opportunities for rehearsal, and both parts +were so long that much study together would be +necessary. Margaret thought that Isabella should +be the Lady. She had a singing voice, and the +song was of importance. It was clear that no +one else could be so suitable for the part. Miss +Carey was well content to have it so, and her +modest objections were soon talked down, the more +easily as she really thought herself well suited to +the part.</p> + +<p>There were now four young ladies, and the +part of Sabrina among them. Walter’s hesitation +was excusable, but again Margaret came to his +help.</p> + +<p>“I have been thinking,” she said, “that the +parts of the Brothers could very well be taken by +ladies. Some long mantle worn thrown over the +shoulder would make a handsome appearance, +and be a suitable dress, and they were both +represented as very young. The line, ‘As smooth +as Hebe’s their unrazor’d lips,’ seems to fit very +well.”</p> + +<p>There was general laughter and a brightening of +eyes and renewed hope among the ladies, though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>poor Henry Whitaker looked as though his last +chance were gone. Walter quickly decided that +his younger sister and Miss Whitaker, who were +both taller than Margaret, should be the Brothers, +unless Miss Steele——?</p> + +<p>But Miss Steele was horrified at the idea. She +to take a man’s part indeed! Not for the world +would she be so bold! No, Sabrina would do very +well for her!</p> + +<p>There was a silence. Walter was again in a +dilemma. This time it was Henry who gave +help.</p> + +<p>“Sabrina has got to sing. I know, because we +did ‘Comus’ at school last half. Can you sing, +Miss Steele?”</p> + +<p>Miss Steele could not, but suggested that some +one might sing behind the scenes for her. There +was again silence, interrupted by a cough from +Sir John, which reminded Walter that a part had +to be found for him.</p> + +<p>“What would you like, Sir John? Will you be +Comus?” he asked with an heroic effort. “Or +would you like to lead the rout? I think Henry +must be the attendant Spirit. It is a long part, +and he knows the play.”</p> + +<p>Henry’s anxious look changed to one of bashful +happiness. Sir John had an easy method of coming +to a decision.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> + +<p>“Which has most to say—Comus or the rout +fellow?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Well, actually Comus has a considerable +number of lines to say—some hundred—but of +course we shall have to cut the whole thing down +somewhat. Still, Comus has undoubtedly got a +good deal to say. The leader of the rout has—well, +he must make as much noise as possible and +dance about. It is a very active part.”</p> + +<p>“I never could learn poetry. I will lead the +rout,” Sir John decided to the general satisfaction, +and he added a grace to his decision by asking Miss +Nancy to lead the rout with him, as she did not +like learning poetry either, and was so fond of +dancing.</p> + +<p>Miss Steele reddened and hesitated, but Miss +Carey’s suggestion that the members of the rout +should all be very gaily clad, in contrast to the +rest of the company, who must be in white or +sad colouring, decided the point. Miss Steele +would be a prominent figure in the rout, and the +part of Sabrina was left for Margaret, who could +sing and did not mind wearing plain white.</p> + +<p>The children, three Middletons and two Careys, +were to be inferior members of the rout, and all +was now happily arranged except the music. At +first it was thought that the music must come from +within doors, but Penelope Carey luckily remembered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>that her sisters’ governess could play the +harp reasonably well, and was a very good sort of +girl. It was decided that she should be established +behind some shrub and contribute all the music +necessary.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The next days were productive of constant +bustle and amusement for the actors, even +if others of the party felt only boredom and inconvenience. +Elinor was against the whole scheme. +It was taking up time which could have been more +rationally employed. The performance was sure +to be inferior, and the weather would probably be +bad. The gentlemen were all too busy to fish with +Edward, and she herself was pressed into service +to help with the arrangement of the dresses. They +had come to Barton hoping for some rest and +refreshment, and found themselves in all this +turmoil. It was true that there was no one at +liberty to entertain Edward Ferrars, and it was +fortunate that he was much more fond of his own +society than that of any other creature with the +exception of his wife, and possibly of his brother-in-law, +Colonel Brandon, so did not feel this to +be an evil. His stay at Barton must necessarily +be short. He had only arranged for his duty to +be taken for one Sunday, and he must return to +his parish. Elinor was to stay on. This had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>been part of the original plan, but there were +several reasons for the decision. Young Master +Ferrars was safely established at the mansion-house +at Delaford under the care of Marianne and +the nurse who attended to Master Brandon. +Edward himself wished his wife to have the +pleasure of a longer stay with her mother. Elinor +was convinced that she could be of use at Barton +in discouraging in Mrs. Dashwood any inclination +to take a romantic view of Commander Pennington’s +advances. She was not without hope of +exercising a wise influence on Margaret. Edward +was very much against her attempting any such +thing, and gave it as his opinion that no good +came of interference; but Elinor would not allow +that wise suggestion could be classed as interference, +and she reminded Edward that he himself +had experienced the folly and misery of a +premature love affair. All of which was moderately +convincing to Edward, and entirely so to +Elinor herself. She would stay on till the early +days of September, for Sir John Middleton was +then to join Colonel Brandon at Delaford for some +shooting, and would take her in his carriage all +the way. Margaret was glad that her mother had +her sister’s company while she herself was so much engaged +with the theatricals, and did not connect her +prolonged visit with any of her own hopes or desires.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> + +<p>In addition to the pleasure of having Elinor with +her, Mrs. Dashwood was very well amused by the +theatricals. Margaret brought her so entertaining +a description of all that went on that to the pleasure +of listening to a lively recital was added the happiness +of hoping that the impression made by Commander +Pennington on Margaret’s mind was fast +fading away. She looked so happy and cheerful +that it was reasonable to suppose her heart-free. +It was not in Mrs. Dashwood’s nature to fear when +it was possible to hope.</p> + +<p>Margaret was, in fact, enjoying the theatricals +excessively. It was essential to her happiness at +present to have every moment of the day occupied. +Thinking did not suit her at all. Too soon +thinking gave way to longing, and longing to +unreasonable fears. She was better employed in +learning her lines, practising her song, making +her dress and helping the other members of the +party to do the same. She had not a long part +herself, and for this reason she was in constant +demand to hear others recite theirs. The +offer to hear hers in return could always be +made, with small risk of acceptance. Walter +Carey in particular found no one so kind and +inspiring.</p> + +<p>Sir John and Miss Steele had no concern but their +dresses, which were to be as gay and fantastic as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>possible, and the five children had to be fitted +with masks and taught some sort of order in their +disorderly rout, that they might not hurt themselves +or each other.</p> + +<p>Walter was a careless stage-manager, inclined +to think that everything would settle itself, and +that the chief parts were all that concerned him. +But, if the play was to be anything but an absurdity, +these minor matters must receive attention, +and there was no one so suited for the task +or so willing to be employed as Margaret. In +everything she was ably assisted by the Careys’ +governess, Miss Fairfield, who had her own little +charges well in hand, and through them was able +to exercise some sort of control over the little +Middletons, who were constantly surprising themselves +by doing what they were told.</p> + +<p>Lady Middleton was concerned as to who should +and who should not be asked to view the performance—the +task of selection being made no easier +by Sir John inviting every one he met—and also +as to what should be the nature of the refreshment +to be provided. She could not be satisfied with +anything short of complete elegance, and, on +asking Walter Carey how this had been managed +at Oxford, was disgusted to hear that he thought +there had been something handed round. Perhaps +some beer or cider. He was not sure!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Jennings thought it all rather tedious. +She could not find that there was a word of love +in the play from beginning to end. It was all +long speeches and brothers going about after their +sister. Such foolishness! The speeches had been +severely cut down, they said, but they were still +a great deal too long to her mind, and not what +anyone would say. Very different from Mr. +Sheridan’s plays, where you could think it was +yourself talking half the time! She thought they +would all have enjoyed a few balls and picnics +much more than all this solemn saying of poetry +over to each other in corners. She had given her +old red satin to Nancy Steele to make a good +appearance in the rout, but beyond that she could +not find anything to do to help, and she thought +they had best get on without her. She would sit +by Mrs. Ferrars in the audience and quiz them all +with her and Mrs. Dashwood.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the children were more completely +happy than anyone. Their part was just to make +a noise and wear queer dresses, and, if children +cannot be pleased with that, they are very strange +children indeed, and, though Lady Middleton +might believe hers to be exceptional, they proved +themselves in this to be very like the little Careys.</p> + +<p>As to the rest of the company, the Lady and +Comus were thoroughly pleased with their own +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>parts, though often despondent about the others. +The Brothers were sometimes assailed by doubts. +Did they, in fact, look as much like two young +men as they hoped? Henry Whitaker found his +part of attendant Spirit very hard stuff to learn, +Sir John occasionally had a hankering after the +part of Comus, who had some very good things +to say, and Miss Nancy Steele was not always +sure that even wearing red satin made a member +of the rout one of the principal figures in the play.</p> + +<p>Margaret’s task was to encourage all these, to +keep some control over the rout, to advise the +Careys’ governess as to the music, and to be sure +that Mr. Atherton had his prompter’s copy correctly +marked with cuts and pauses.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI"> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The rehearsals were the perquisite of Sir +John. It was at the Park that they were +held. His drawing-room it was that was daily +filled with guests; his servants that were daily +called upon to provide casual meals; and his +box-rooms and cupboards that were ransacked +for stage properties. A very happy state of things +for Sir John, who could never be too much in +company, but less agreeable to his lady, who liked +her household arrangements to move smoothly, and +not to progress in jerks and runs.</p> + +<p>Sir Francis and Lady Carey began to feel that +their young people were accepting hospitality for +which no return was being made. Though not +fond of company themselves, this situation was +not agreeable to them. They decided that some +effort must be made, and the result of their consultation +was that Walter Carey rode over to +Barton on Sunday afternoon, commissioned by his +mother to invite the party to Newton for the +following day. There was to be a rehearsal in +the morning; the whole party was to dine, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>after tea more neighbours were to come in for a +ball. It was to be a day of festivity, and Walter +Carey looked as if he expected to enjoy it.</p> + +<p>Elinor was at first inclined to excuse herself +and to declare herself unable to leave her mother, +but Walter immediately included Mrs. Dashwood +in the invitation, and, though she laughingly +declined on her own behalf, she was determined +that Elinor should be of the party. It was just +such a gathering as a young woman should enjoy, +and Elinor could not be excused from enjoying +it. She had been to many such parties at her +mother’s instigation, and been exceedingly weary +at them, and was really reluctant, but Walter’s +smile carried the day and she consented to be +made happy, so far as being continually in company +for a space of twelve hours could make +her so.</p> + +<p>Walter rode off to secure other guests, brimful +of pleasure himself and leaving a very fair amount +behind him. The project would be an agreeable +change to Margaret. Sir Francis and Lady Carey +were superior in sense and taste to the Middletons, +and, even had they been without these claims to +her interest, they had at least the quality of being +less well known. Every one must feel that a party +was the pleasanter for Walter’s presence, and it +was four years since she had been to Newton +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span>Hall. They were to be called for early by the +Barton Park carriage.</p> + +<p>The morning was fine, and they started for the +drive of four miles in excellent spirits. Mr. +Atherton joined them, and the barouche was full; +Sir John driving with the manservant beside him, +and Elinor, Miss Steele and Margaret sharing +Mr. Atherton’s attentions between them. Lady +Middleton had thought the day too long for the +children, and stayed at home herself to be with +them.</p> + +<p>The drive through deep Devonshire lanes was +a very pretty one, and all were delighted with the +charm of the journey, and even more delighted +to have it over, to judge by the pleasure expressed +when they came in sight of the house, a fine Tudor +mansion, with walled gardens, fish-ponds and wild +shrubbery, all very much like many other country +gentlemen’s seats, but not the less deserving of +admiration on that account.</p> + +<p>Walter Carey met them with enthusiasm, and +Sir Francis with cordiality. It was to be the last +before the dress-rehearsal, and Sir Francis was to +be admitted as audience and critic, and, if Lady +Carey could find time from her preparations for +the evening, it was hoped that her opinion would +be obtained too, though privately this was not +considered to be of equal importance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> + +<p>That the rout would only consist of four in place +of seven noisy people was to be deplored, but +much was said on the wisdom of avoiding excitement +for children, and much was thought on the +comfort of the young Middletons being absent +from the party. It was hoped aloud that the four +would be unruly and noisy enough for seven when +the proper time came, but remembered in silence +that the Middleton children had no idea of any +time being unsuitable for noise and disturbance.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton greeted his friends, the Carey +children, with affection, and was dragged off at +once to see the fish-ponds, Miss Fairfield going also +to see that the little girls did not presume on his +good nature.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party were conducted indoors +for rest and refreshment. Lady Carey, though +not so anxious for elegance as Lady Middleton, +kept an uncommonly good table, and the repast +that awaited them of fruit, cakes and excellent +home-made ginger wine was enjoyed without any +demur as to the earliness of the hour. Mary and +Henry Whitaker arrived on horseback, with their +evening clothes packed in the saddle-bags, and +everybody was ready for the rehearsal.</p> + +<p>Sir Francis was accommodated with an armchair +in the middle of the lawn, as sole audience, +and the rest of the party went behind the bushes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>in order to make their entrances as much a surprise +to Sir Francis as was possible. Elinor had offered +her services to Lady Carey, and was within doors +with her, helping in some of the preparations for +the evening, which could not but be a strain on +the best ordered house and the best trained +servants.</p> + +<p>The attendant Spirit had said some of his curtailed +speeches, rather bashful at being the first +to speak, and feeling sharply the incongruity of +his riding-boots, when Sir Francis rose from his +chair with a shout of welcome.</p> + +<p>“Willoughby! On my life! What brings you +here?”</p> + +<p>Willoughby was coming across the lawn with +his usual easy manner of being sure of a welcome +wherever he might appear.</p> + +<p>“I heard you had something of this sort going +on, Sir Francis, and you know my passion for +acting. We are staying at Allenham, so I came +over to see if I could be of any use.”</p> + +<p>The rout were being held in leash by Sir John, +and Walter was looking round the bushes to see +what the interruption was about, and Margaret, +from her bush, peeped too. Walter, of course, +knew nothing except that this tiresome fellow +was interrupting the rehearsal, but Margaret was +highly entertained. The meeting between +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>Willoughby and Elinor employed her thoughts +to the exclusion of all else. Just what degree +of cold dignity would Elinor assume? This was +an audacity of which few but Willoughby would +be capable, but it formed a situation that had +at least the merit of being worthy of observation.</p> + +<p>Willoughby was given a chair, and his presence +no doubt added zest to the acting. Walter was +determined to make a good show before this older +man, who was yet of his own generation. The +Lady was more graceful, the Brothers more dashing, +and the rout, if possible, more noisy than heretofore. +Miss Steele especially surpassed herself +in the spirit and vigour of her dancing, and Sir +John was much gratified by Willoughby’s incessant +laughter.</p> + +<p>When all was over Sir John came to shake +hands and be congratulated.</p> + +<p>“Funny piece, isn’t it? That bit where we all +come tumbling in ought to amuse our audience. +I like to see a man laugh as you do. Shows a good +heart!”</p> + +<p>“I have been vastly entertained, Sir John,” +replied Willoughby with a bow, and then, as +Walter came up, he turned his compliments with +a finer edge, congratulating the younger man on +the fine speaking of the lines which the whole +company achieved.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> + +<p>“Miss Margaret’s song is delicious. A most +melodious voice, like her sister’s but not so full +and sweet. Mrs. Brandon had the voice of an +angel, unequalled in tone and expression.”</p> + +<p>He spoke with great feeling, sighed heavily, and +looked downcast.</p> + +<p>This had the desired effect, for as they walked +to the house Walter Carey said in an undertone to +Margaret:</p> + +<p>“I suppose he was in love with your sister, +Mrs. Brandon. I pity him. It must have been +bad to him to see her married. I wonder why she +would not have him?”</p> + +<p>Margaret made no reply, but thought with +amusement how Willoughby had improved his +position with those few words. He would now +be regarded as the unsuccessful lover of Marianne, +who would appear to have turned from the young +admirer and married the rich, middle-aged suitor. +Willoughby was to be pitied, but not to be blamed, +Marianne to be wondered at, but not to be pitied. +Perhaps both gained something by this re-arrangement +of the facts.</p> + +<p>They had now reached the house, and Margaret +hoped to be in time to witness the meeting between +Elinor and Willoughby. She was not to be disappointed. +Lady Carey and Elinor were still +upstairs when the rest of the party assembled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>in the drawing-room before dinner. Lady Carey +appeared, greeted Willoughby as the last-come +guest, and then made her stout, comfortable way +to Sir John Middleton, who was to tell her how +everything had gone at the rehearsal and all about +the ducks and geese at Barton Park, and the +prospects of a good fruit harvest—for Lady Carey +was a real country dame, and a much better pair +to Sir John than his more elegant lady-wife, at +least in Margaret’s opinion. But then Sir Francis +Carey, a fine scholarly gentleman, would have +found Lady Middleton very fatiguing, so the +re-arrangement of these pairs was abandoned by +Margaret, and she continued to watch the door for +Elinor.</p> + +<p>She came. At sight of Willoughby her complexion +changed. He came forward eagerly smiling, +and with outstretched hand. She bowed decisively, +managed to ignore the hand, and turned to Isabella +Carey with some question about the rehearsal. +Willoughby hesitated. Margaret saw him falter, +but imagined him to be taking courage. With +resolution he joined the group, and himself entered +into conversation with Miss Carey, including Elinor +in his remarks with courtesy and friendliness. +He held her there with his attentions, would not +allow her to escape him, and for a few minutes +it appeared to all who cared to take note of it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>that Mr. Willoughby and Mrs. Ferrars were on +terms of the friendliest acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Elinor was determined to get away, and move +away she did, but not till his purpose was accomplished, +and Margaret was left in admiration of +his ready wit and charming effrontery. She saw +that her sister’s resentment was great. It was +but natural that Elinor, who knew so much of +the suffering Willoughby had caused to Marianne, +should feel strongly in condemnation of this easy +assumption of friendliness.</p> + +<p>Margaret felt that she herself judged the case +more correctly. She felt she knew more of his +real feeling, his real regret, and she could not be +blind to the fact that the line he was taking was +really the one to do most honour to Marianne’s +situation. If it pleased him to pose as the unfortunate +admirer it was an indulgence which need +not be denied him except in the interest of strict +veracity, for, while it might seem that he gained +somewhat in the eyes of the world in being thought +unlucky rather than faithless, Marianne gained +more in being supposed fickle rather than unfortunate. +For it is well known that while to be crossed +in love is highly honourable to a gentleman, in +a lady it is correspondingly disgraceful; and +while a change of heart is much to be deplored +in a masculine lover, for a female to hesitate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>between two, and finally make her choice, enhances +not only her own value but that of both her +admirers; so that Colonel Brandon might be +supposed to be a gainer by Willoughby’s affectation +of love-lornity; and would doubtless be +much gratified by the circumstances if it could +be supposed that he would think anything at all +about it.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII"> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The party for dinner was to have consisted +of fifteen persons, including the little girls and +their governess. Lady Carey, who combined strict +views on the bringing up of children with the +greatest latitude and kindness in carrying them +out, had arranged that the school-room party +should sit at a side-table, but partake of all the +good things provided for their betters. Willoughby’s +arrival threw the numbers out and, in order +to avoid the evil of sitting down thirteen at the +larger table, it was necessary that some one else +should be placed at the inferior one, and Lady +Carey had decided that it should be Henry Whitaker, +who was still at Westminster, and therefore +grouped in her mind with the children.</p> + +<p>The choice could not have fallen on anyone who +would feel the indignity more. He stood beside +his chair, red and glowering, unwilling to take +the place one moment before it was necessary. +The disgrace was happily averted. The two little +girls clamorously begged that Mr. Atherton might +be sent to their table and, as he added his entreaties, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>Lady Carey yielded to their wishes. +Margaret breathed again for Henry, and as he +took the place intended for Mr. Atherton between +their hostess and herself she was able to begin +the process of soothing his ruffled feelings by the +sweetness of her welcoming smile.</p> + +<p>It was not to be expected that Henry could +have much to say to Lady Carey. The affront +was too recent, and his resentment too just. It +was not until the first course had been removed +and the corner dishes placed for the second that +he could have replied without constraint even to +her inquiries for his mother. Margaret’s attention, +as he told her of the great doings at Westminster +at the Grease, and the wild scenes in Great School +that always ensued, had done him a world of good, +and, though it might be that Lady Carey would +never be entirely forgiven, he found he could now +speak to her in an ordinary tone and believe her +to be a very good sort of woman in her way.</p> + +<p>Walter Carey, who sat on Margaret’s other side, +was far from being pleased to find her attention +turned from him, but, in addition to his habitual +good-nature, he had the assistance of knowing +himself to be the superior of Henry in so many +particulars that he felt he could afford to him the +indulgence of Margaret’s kindness. He himself +was obliged to turn to Mary Whitaker, a plain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>girl, but, he found, very agreeable. So often it +may be noticed by those whose powers of observation +are not blurred by partiality that the absence +of other attractions is accompanied by a wish to +please, and some knowledge of how to do it, so +that those who are so justly scorned for their lack +of beauty, by their fairer sisters, achieve a high +degree of popularity with the other sex.</p> + +<p>Mary Whitaker was generally liked and always +content with such notice as fell to her share. She +felt no resentment when Walter took the opportunity +of the dishes being changed to engage +Margaret’s attention, even though she herself was +cut short in the middle of a sentence, and, finding +Mrs. Ferrars at liberty, was pleased to find herself +kindly addressed and offered some advice and help +in the arrangement of her dress as Second Brother.</p> + +<p>Sir Francis had enjoyed his talk with Elinor. +Her cultivated mind and elegant beauty exactly +suited his taste, and he eyed Miss Steele, who +sat on his left, with a sidelong glance that spoke +his fear that he was now to be less happily entertained. +Miss Steele was in very poor spirits. She +was sat down next to Sir Francis, who had not +so much as looked at her, and on the other side +was Penelope Carey, who had no eyes for anyone +but Mr. Willoughby, and who seemed a stupid +sort of girl even if she had tried to make herself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>agreeable. When Sir Francis had learnt that +Miss Steele had lived at Plymouth all her life, and +that her younger sister was well married, but that +she herself could not make up her mind, he found +himself at a loss for a topic of conversation, and, +on being applied to by Elinor for information as +to the origin of Comus, he gladly devoted himself +to the task of enlightening the minds of Mary +Whitaker and Mrs. Ferrars on the subject of the +influence of the Elizabethans on literature of a +later date.</p> + +<p>Willoughby had been exerting his powers of +conversation between Isabella and Penelope Carey, +who had often wished to know more of him in +the days when Marianne had absorbed his attention, +and by the end of dinner they were both +quite convinced that whatever the trouble had +been, whatever it was that had broken the engagement, +it must have been the fault of Mrs. Brandon, +and not of the charming gentleman who entertained +them. They wondered that his wife were +not more seen with him. They feared he was +neglected by her, and remembered all they had +heard of her ill-temper and sickliness.</p> + +<p>Isabella’s attention was claimed from time to +time by Sir John, who must have some young lady +to tease about her dearest affections, and who +spent a very agreeable hour dividing his attentions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>between Lady Carey, who was a very knowledgable +woman indeed, and Isabella, who was a very +handsome one.</p> + +<p>The party at the smaller table was as noisy as +any. Mr. Atherton had claimed that Miss Fairfield +was to have a holiday and he would be +deputy governess, with the lady as his eldest and +show pupil, and the little girls had been delighted +to have their knuckles rapped and their elbows +poked in, and to be told how to hold their forks +all wrong, and which side of their mouths they +should use for drinking.</p> + +<p>The laughter became so uproarious that Sir +Francis’s eyebrows went up into his grey hair, and +Lady Carey had to administer some more serious +admonitions. Margaret thought with surprise of +how wearisome this man could be, and made the +well-worn discovery that if people are to be agreeable +they need but be natural. Mr. Atherton’s +good-nature was superior to his intelligence, and +he could make himself liked where he did not much +wish to impress.</p> + +<p>Dinner was over at last, and the ladies were to +spend the hours before tea in rest and chat in the +drawing-room, admiring each other’s work, for +which they cared nothing, playing each other’s +songs, which they did very indifferently, and +preventing each other from indulging in the quiet +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>doze which would have been so welcome to most +after the tiring morning and excellent dinner. +Lady Carey alone was fortunate in having matters +requiring her attention, and which, declining all +assistance, she executed in great comfort with her +eyes closed on the couch in her bed-chamber.</p> + +<p>The party in the drawing-room finally strolled +out on to the lawn, where they were joined by the +gentlemen, who had been watching a desultory +game of billiards between Walter and Willoughby. +Henry felt that the insult of the dining-room had +been almost wiped out when Sir Francis had +invited him to join the party in the billiard-room.</p> + +<p>The children were taken off to the school-room +by their governess. Their share of amusement +was over for the day, as they were not to appear +at the ball. If they felt downcast at being excluded +from the fun, they could console themselves by +thinking that, in a few years time, they would be +as pretty as Miss Dashwood, and talk as fast as +Miss Steele, and wear clothes as fine as their sisters.</p> + +<p>Miss Fairfield had no such consolation. For a +young woman of twenty-three to be in the school-room +while a ball is in progress in the drawing-room +is no happy fate; and the time to which the +children looked forward would only be to her the +occasion of a removal to another house, where she +might be treated with less consideration, and at a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>time when she could not but be losing the attractions +of face and figure which seemed so wasted +now. She actually was as pretty as Margaret, and +could have found as many things to say as Miss +Steele, and have looked fully as well in fine clothes +as the two Miss Careys. Her lot, however, was a +different one, and she took the cover from her +harp in order to practise the music of the other +girls’ songs, with the wish at least to be contented +in that she had a share, though a small one, in the +performance which was the centre of every one’s +thoughts.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"> + CHAPTER XVIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Elinor seated herself on a bench under a +tree with Mary Whitaker, who was seeking +her society with the enthusiasm of the very young +for an elder whose notice is coveted. Elinor +enjoyed the admiration, and could gratify her +sense of right by leading the conversation on lines +likely to be helpful in the development of Mary’s +mind. It was not in Elinor’s nature to enjoy +anything fully unless she could perceive in it some +vestige of a duty; here duty and pleasure were +combined.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party were pacing up and down +the avenue behind them in twos and threes, and +scraps of their conversation were wafted to Elinor’s +ears and mingled with Mary’s artless admiration +in her mind.</p> + +<p>“A capital fellow, Willoughby! He has got a +dull little wife with a fortune. I suppose one +makes up for the other, but in my opinion he +was better off without either. When you marry, +Miss Isabella, take care you get a fine young +man, and a little fortune too, and ask me over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>to dance at your wedding. An old fellow like +me——”</p> + +<p>Sir John’s voice grew fainter, and Elinor’s +attention was recalled by the eager questioning of +Mary as to the relative merits of Gainsborough +and Sir Thomas Lawrence’s portraits, a subject +on which Elinor’s opinion must be conclusive, +as she drew very pretty pencil sketches herself +and had been to London. Another pair was +approaching.</p> + +<p>“There’s a table up School with all sorts of +fellow’s names cut on it—deep too. I mean to +cut mine before I leave if I get a chance. I found +my grandfather’s name, and two of my uncles’. +Did you cut your name anywhere at Canterbury, +Mr. Atherton——?”</p> + +<p>“That’s Harry,” said Mary. “He is always +talking about Westminster. I do think it is rather +hard that he should go to London twice a year +and I, who am older, have never been there. Do +not you think so, Mrs. Ferrars? He says I should +not like to be at Westminster at all, but I think +it must be better than to be always in the country. +Do not you think so, Mrs. Ferrars?”</p> + +<p>Miss Steele’s voice could now be heard from far +away, and her complaints made Elinor smile, and +Mary redden with vexation on her behalf.</p> + +<p>“My sister, Lucy, married Mr. Robert Ferrars, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>so Mrs. Ferrars and me are almost sisters; but +then she is so cold and distant I do not like to +claim it, and indeed I am not sure that Lucy +would wish it, for the family thought it a very +bad match for Mr. Edward, and they all look +down on his wife, so of course Lucy does too, as +she is one of them. Mrs. Ferrars, his mother, +cannot forgive Mr. Edward for making the marriage; +for all that she is so fond of Lucy, so it’s +not that she is unkind and proud. But then +Lucy has a way with her and I am sure will take +any trouble to get herself liked, and it’s that makes +the difference, Miss Penelope, you may be sure; +for I always will say Lucy is very nice when she +isn’t being cross, and I miss her very much, for +she always knew what suited me better than I +do myself. Sisters are——”</p> + +<p>Neither Elinor nor Mary wished to hear more, +and were satisfied that the misdeeds of sisters +should be lamented out of ear-shot. Mary’s +questions began again, and Elinor was delighting +in talking of her favourite painters when she +stopped in surprise on hearing the voices of the +next party.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, Margaret and Walter Carey were +approaching. She could hear Willoughby’s pleasant +tones recounting some theatrical experience of his +own, Walter’s eager voice questioning him, submitting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>to his judgment, consulting him, and +Margaret’s low laughter and interested comments. +Every one making much of Willoughby, reinstating +him, admiring him! Elinor remembered that she +herself had not repulsed him on the night of +Marianne’s illness; but then he had been anxious, +distraught, miserable. Common humanity demanded +that she should bear with him! Now, +when he was at ease, self-satisfied, arrogant, it +was not to be endured that Margaret should +help him in maintaining this good opinion of +himself.</p> + +<p>The conversation had begun at the other end +of the avenue by Willoughby taking Walter’s +arm as he strolled with Margaret under the +trees.</p> + +<p>“I hear you have had a friend of mine in the +neighbourhood—a naval officer—Commander Pennington. +Did you see him, Carey?”</p> + +<p>Walter denied all knowledge of Commander +Pennington, and Margaret did not claim any.</p> + +<p>“He was at Grice’s farm for about a week, and +I was at Allenham all the while, which makes it +all the more annoying. However, I hear he left +word with Mrs. Grice that he would be back in +October at the latest; so I shall contrive to be +here then, if I can get Mrs. Smith to think she +cannot do without me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> + +<p>“How do you know him?” asked Walter, to +Margaret’s relief. She feared she might put the +question herself if Walter failed in curiosity.</p> + +<p>“I met him in London playing cards at my +club first, and sometimes since, and once at Lord +Courtland’s private theatre. We were not acting, +either of us. Merely members of the audience, +and prodigiously bored at that. They did ‘Five +Hours at Brighton,’ and it would not have surprised +me to hear that it was ten times as long. Pennington +and I got into a quiet corner where we could +sit down and talk of something else. Before all +things private theatricals should not be too long! +Your choice of a play is a capital one, Carey. +Indeed you are much to be congratulated on play +and players.”</p> + +<p>From thence the conversation had drifted on +to the point when Elinor could hear them talking +and laughing, and for the moment forgot Mary +Whitaker and her thirst for improvement in her +anger against Willoughby, and his desire for +reconcilement.</p> + +<p>Fortunately a move indoors for tea broke up the +various parties, and after tea no time could be +wasted in talking when there was all the business +of dressing for the ball to be attended to. Mary +and Henry Whitaker were to stay the night, and +their rooms were available as dressing-rooms for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>the rest of the party, the ladies running in and +out of Mary’s room and that of the Miss Careys +for ribbons and hair-pins, shoe-ties and perfume; +while the gentlemen brushed and combed, talked +and laughed in Henry’s room as much as in Walter’s, +and made him very happy in playing host to all +these grown-up males to the extent at least of +lending them his brushes and having their coats +laid on his bed.</p> + +<p>Downstairs there was consternation. The musicians +had not arrived. There was to be a fiddle +and a cornet, and neither was come. Lady Carey’s +desperation was pitiable. Her round, happy face +was ill-suited to such looks of woe, and Sir Francis, +meeting her on the stairs, was disturbed out of +his usual detachment. He was made acquainted +with the cause of her distress, and, with that +spark of genius in mundane affairs which is sometimes +shown by those who spend their lives aloof +from them, he suggested that Miss Fairfield could +play very nicely and no doubt knew some pretty +dance music.</p> + +<p>Lady Carey’s relief was in proportion to her +former despair. She hurried along to the school-room +door with the speed of one of her own +children, and there found Miss Fairfield practising +her harp all alone. A few minutes sufficed to +make known to her the trouble she was called +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>upon to allay, and being, as Miss Penelope had +said, a very good sort of girl, she was ready to +put on her prettiest gown and take her subordinate +but all-important part in the enjoyment of the +evening.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX"> + CHAPTER XIX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The ball was to begin and end early. The +dancers came from distances of from three +to four miles, and the journey home, though in +moonlight, must be regarded. There were to be +eight or ten couples. Five more ladies were expected +and three more gentlemen. It was feared that +Sir Francis would not dance, so unless the ladies +could be persuaded to be so good as to stand up +together there would only be a set of eight couples.</p> + +<p>Willoughby, in pursuance of his method of +daring all, applied to Elinor for the honour of +her hand for the first two dances. He fully deserved +the reply he received, that Mary Whitaker was +to be her partner. Mary, who had not heard of +this arrangement before, was fortunately disengaged +and, as she had no hope of being asked at +first by Walter Carey, was quite ready to be one of +the ladies who were applauded for their good-nature.</p> + +<p>Willoughby next made application to Margaret, +who accepted. Neither Walter nor Henry had +been quick enough, and were obliged to content +themselves with her promise for later in the evening.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + +<p>Willoughby did not again approach Mrs. Ferrars. +He was satisfied at opening the ball with the +sought-after Miss Margaret Dashwood, and after +that devoted himself for the rest of the evening +to the Miss Careys and the more attractive of their +friends.</p> + +<p>Margaret found much to enjoy in the first two +dances. Willoughby was an accomplished dancer, +and she was spared all the anxiety and shame +which an indifferent partner can inflict, and which +she had to endure with Walter Carey, who, though +anxious to excel, was too fond of talking to attend +to the dancing, and too fond of dancing to attend +to the music. It was a lamentable performance, +and Margaret looked forward with dread to the +next two dances, which had been claimed by Henry +Whitaker.</p> + +<p>It might be argued that, if we could go through +life dreading enough things, we should never have +a moment of real distress, so uniformly is it the +case that things dreaded turn out better than could +be hoped. Henry was a capital dancer, attending +to his business with a steady gravity, and not to +be turned from the right path by any mistakes +that others, who should have known better, might +make.</p> + +<p>There was now a pause in the evening’s gaiety, +and a general move to the dining-room where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>supper was laid. Margaret found herself placed +at table by Mr. Atherton, who having remarked +on the excellence of the floor, the decorations and +the supper, went on to comment on the excellence +of the music.</p> + +<p>“Miss Fairfield is a very fine performer. Do +you not think it remarkable, Miss Margaret, that +she does not tire of playing all these country-dances?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps she is tired,” said Margaret. “It +seems hard that she should play for us to dance. +I might play the next after supper I think; but +that would be useless unless she got a partner, +and with so many ladies—— What do you say, +Mr. Atherton, will you engage her to dance with +you if I offer to play?”</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton agreed at once.</p> + +<p>“That is very good of you,” she said. “When +we are again in the drawing-room I will ask her +to let me take her place at the instrument, and do +you be on the watch, and come up at once when +you see her prepared to dance. She must not +know that we have spoken of it.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton professed himself very happy, and +the plan so neatly arranged was carried out to +perfection. Miss Fairfield danced as well as she +played, and Mr. Atherton beamed with good-nature +and satisfaction with his lady and himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span></p> + +<p>Margaret’s last partner was an unexpected one. +Sir Francis had been watching the dancers from +the doorway with an air of amused toleration. +He now approached her, professing himself able +to get through Sir Roger de Coverley if carefully +instructed, and offered himself for her tuition. +She felt that it was to Elinor that the compliment +was due, and was astounded at its being made +to herself. She found him more <i>au fait</i> with the +dance than he had professed. His bows were +more courtly, his style of dancing more deliberate +than was customary, but he made no mistakes +and required no reminding. Walter Carey, who +was dancing with Mary Whitaker, eyed his father +from time to time with an affectionate smile, but +Margaret was unable to determine whether he was +amused or pleased with the elder man’s activity.</p> + +<p>Elinor had danced only with Mary, Sir John and +Mr. Atherton. She had sat down after supper, +holding a desultory conversation with Lady Carey, +who was sick to death of all of them, and longing +for the first carriage to be announced. Elinor +herself was too tired to talk, and they sat together, +thankful for each other’s intermittent silence.</p> + +<p>Sir John’s manservant at length brought the +carriage to the door, and the hour of release had +struck. Mr. Atherton was to stay the night with +the vicar of Newton, and be driven over to Barton +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>by the Careys in time for the dress-rehearsal on +Wednesday. This had the result of leaving an +inside seat in the carriage for Sir John, which +proved to be an advantage for Elinor also. Hardly +had they turned out of the drive gates before +Sir John was asleep, and though Miss Steele would +have chattered all the way home if she had been +allowed, Elinor forbade all talking lest Sir John’s +slumbers should be disturbed. Whether solicitude +for him were her only object, or whether she would +have liked quiet herself, she was only partially +successful, but Miss Steele did not talk above half +the time, and hardly ever spoke or laughed really +loud.</p> + +<p>When Elinor and Margaret were put down at +the gate of Barton Cottage and walked up the +little path to the door, it seemed to both that they +had been away something more like a week than +a day. Their mother was awaiting them with +inquiries as to their enjoyment and offers of soup +or hot wine and water. The questions must be +put aside until they themselves knew whether +they had enjoyed the day. For the moment they +only knew that they were exceedingly tired; but +the hot wine was a welcome suggestion. Margaret +was sufficiently restored by it to give her mother +some account of the amusements of the day, +but Elinor did not find that she would be able +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>to do justice to her vexation with Margaret for +her encouragement of Willoughby until she had +had the further refreshment of a night’s sleep.</p> + +<p>No one, not even Lady Carey nor any of her +household, was more glad than Elinor of the quiet +comfort of her pillows. The dance music ceased +at last to plague her brain, and she forgot her +vexation and weariness in dreams of home and of +young Master Ferrars.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX"> + CHAPTER XX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>“I was very much surprised yesterday, mamma,” +began Mrs. Ferrars, when she and her mother +met next morning at the breakfast table. “Mr. +Willoughby was at Newton, and seemed to wish +to renew our acquaintance. He has strange ideas +of decorum. I was vexed that Margaret danced +with him. In my opinion we should have nothing +to say to him.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood immediately asked to be made +acquainted with all that had happened. Elinor’s +account was not too partial either to Willoughby +or Margaret, but it was as accurate as a statement +of the sort usually is, when a good deal more is +felt than can be wisely expressed. Mrs. Dashwood’s +opinion was that there could be no help +for it. They must admit Mr. Willoughby to their +acquaintance or be for ever plagued by meeting +him and being under the necessity of ignoring +him. Both were evils, but Mrs. Dashwood had no +difficulty in deciding on the least. They would +meet him as an acquaintance. No doubt it would +be as well to discourage Margaret from dancing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>or talking with him, and if possible they would +give him the idea that he was but tolerated as +being unworthy of serious resentment.</p> + +<p>“After all,” she said, “he has done no harm to +anyone but himself.”</p> + +<p>Elinor could not avoid a smile. Her recollections +of Marianne’s agony of mind, and her mother’s +misery at the time, were at variance with the +present statement, but she could only envy and +try to emulate such happy forgetfulness. In fact, +Mrs. Dashwood was rather looking forward to +meeting Mr. Willoughby again. There was something +attractive in the thought that he was +still attached to her daughter; it gave her an +interest in him which she had never expected +to feel again, and, though she could not think +it right, she found it lessened rather than increased +her blame of him. There could be no +doubt that he would be present at the theatricals +on Thursday.</p> + +<p>The dress-rehearsal was to be on Wednesday +afternoon, and all were glad of a day’s interval for +rest and ordinary occupations. All Tuesday Margaret +felt an increasing desire to lie down, but +encouraged herself to her usual activities, walked +with Elinor, talked with her mother, and succeeded +in concealing the fact of her weariness and malaise. +The afternoon of Wednesday was damp and cold. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>The dress-rehearsal was achieved, as they so often +are, in a series of pauses and rushes. Some people +were not ready for their cues, and others came on +too soon. The dresses needed alteration and the +stage readjustment. It was over at last, and +Margaret arrived home with wet feet and an aching +head.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood at once recommended bed, and +her advice was thankfully accepted. It was soon +clear to Elinor, and later to her mother, that +Margaret was quite unfit to take her part on the +morrow, and word to that effect was hastily sent +to the Park.</p> + +<p>Thomas was the messenger of woe. The Careys +were all staying the night at the Park, and it was +to Walter as stage-manager that the note was +addressed, and by him read aloud to Sir John and +Mr. Atherton in the library.</p> + +<p>It was the misfortune to the play that chiefly +affected Sir John, but Walter had a deeper concern +in Margaret’s illness. He was very young, but it +has not been discovered that youth is any bar +to falling in love, though it is often found to be +an obstacle to marriage. He was for giving the +play up altogether, and at once; or possibly postponing +it, he added, when Sir John’s crestfallen +look suggested the amendment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton offered a suggestion of greater +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>efficacy in removing the gloom from Sir John’s +good-natured face.</p> + +<p>“Miss Fairfield knows the song,” he said, “and +has been present at every rehearsal. She would +do the part very well or I am no judge of an +actor.”</p> + +<p>All was well for Sir John. No thought of the +suffering Margaret could be allowed to cloud his +happiness. He carried the note into the drawing-room +with an expression which bore no relation to +his opening words.</p> + +<p>“Here’s bad news,” he began. “Miss Margaret +ill in bed; but we do not need to give up our play, +for Miss Fairfield can take the part. That is, if +she will be so good,” looking round the room for +her. “She can do it just as well, Atherton says, +and she is just about Miss Margaret’s size, so can +wear the dress. I suppose she is in the school-room +with the children. Let us go and tell her +she is to be Sabrina.”</p> + +<p>Lady Middleton, however, insisted that she +should first understand the matter, and then in +a more formal manner advise Miss Fairfield of the +happiness in store for her. She went herself, and +having told Miss Fairfield of the misfortune begged +her to be so kind as to assist them in their difficulty. +For all the cold formality of her manner, the +impression received was not different in essentials +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>from that which Sir John would have given if +he had had his way, and gone to tell her she +“was to be Sabrina.” Miss Fairfield, however, +though well aware that she could not refuse, +had not for that reason any wish to do so. +She had not the least disinclination to oblige, +and would much enjoy taking the part, and +wearing the dress, and very soon was happily +planning the arrangement of her “amber dropping +hair.”</p> + +<p>Walter was soon on his way to the Cottage to +inquire for Margaret, and to tell them how the +difficulty was to be met. He found Mrs. Ferrars +alone, as Mrs. Dashwood was in attendance on +Margaret. He was very unhappy, and said so. +Elinor remembered the visit of another anxious +young man when Marianne was ill, and compared +the two to the advantage of the one before her. +Willoughby, ashamed and maddened by the sense +of his unworthy conduct, dependent on his wife, +and disgraced in many quarters. Walter, young, +ardent, with only boyhood behind him, and happy +prospects before, well liked, and the only son of +a rich baronet. He made no attempt to hide +his concern for Margaret, and the message with +which he was charged, that Miss Fairfield would +take the part, was only valuable to him as a possible +alleviation to her mind. She must not trouble +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>about the play. She must not trouble about +anything. It would all be well arranged. All +she had to do was to get well as quickly as was +possible.</p> + +<p>Elinor promised him that her sister should have +every attention from her mother and herself, and +at last he went away with something less of anxiety +in his mind.</p> + +<p>Margaret was feeling very ill. She had been +exerting herself beyond her strength for some weeks, +constantly keeping her mind at work to prevent +herself from thinking, and her body active to induce +sleep at night. The long and exciting day on +Monday had brought on a feverish attack, which +was increased by the wet and discomfort of the +rehearsal at the Park. Her voice had gone, her +head ached, and she could not rest, although +in bed. She had a wretched night of fitful +dreams and fancies, but was better in the +morning, and ready to urge her mother and +Elinor to go to the Park in the afternoon to +see the play.</p> + +<p>Elinor had seen so much of it that she resolutely +declined, but Mrs. Dashwood, with her lighter +spirit, was not unwilling. She declared at first +affectionately that she could not leave her Margaret +when she was ill, but her Margaret protested +that she very much wished to hear about the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>play, and that no one would give so good an +account of it as her mother, and that she +would do very well with Elinor at home. She +charged her mother with many special points +on which she was to be observant—to look out +for the eccentricities of Miss Steele’s dress, which +Margaret had not attempted to restrain, to +notice if the Brothers handled their swords well, +if the children in the rout kept their stockings +up, and whether the attendant Spirit forgot his +words.</p> + +<p>The morning passed quietly. The apothecary +came and went, having ordered that she was on +no account to leave her bed till all symptoms of +fever had subsided. Margaret was not unwilling +to rest her tired body. Her brain was still too +feverish to think for long coherently, and she spent +the day dozing and waking, tired and ill, but not +unhappy.</p> + +<p>A basket of fruit and flowers was brought from +the Park by Walter with a particular hope +embalmed in a formal little note from Lady Middleton +that Miss Margaret went on well, and that +Mrs. Dashwood and Mrs. Ferrars would be able +to leave their patient in the afternoon and honour +them at the Park.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood would only consent to leave her +daughter for the hour or so to be occupied by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>play. The day was fine and she would walk up +to the Park and walk back, without being included +in those lesser festivities of reception and refreshment +which had inevitably gathered round the +performance.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI"> + CHAPTER XXI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Willoughby had no difficulty in obtaining +from Mrs. Grice the whereabouts of his +“friend,” Richard Pennington. Consequently, +when the letter-bag was opened on board the +“Wren,” among other correspondence the following +letter engaged the attention of the Commander:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="author2"> + <span class="smcap">Allenham Court</span>,</p> +<p class="author"> + <i>August 5th, 1813</i>.</p> + <p> + <span class="smcap">Dear Pennington</span>, +</p> + +<p>Imagine my chagrin on hearing you had +been in my neighbourhood in April. My wife +and I were staying at Allenham at the very time +you were at Grice’s farm. A most annoying +circumstance that I did not know you were there! +I am here again, this time alone, for which I am +duly grateful. Mrs. Smith has been unwell and +wished to see me. I hear that you expect to be +in England in October. Do, my dear friend, like +a good fellow, come to me at Combe Magna. To +be eternally shut up with one woman is more +than any reasonable man can stand, and, although +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span>I get what society I can, none is more desired than +yours. I cannot come here again unless I am +summoned by the all-powerful Mrs. Smith. You +know how she can keep me on a string. I have +therefore no certainty of seeing you unless you will +be compassionate.</p> + +<p>Here nothing is thought of but a play in Sir John +Middleton’s garden. Do you remember how we +quizzed “Five Hundred Hours at Brighton”? This +is just such another. Comus booming and mouthing, +the Lady piping and squealing, and two girls +standing about with their hands on their hips and +calling each other “Brother.” And then the rout. +Ye gods! The rout! Sir John in purple, a middle-aged +spinster in red, and about ten children in +home-made masks. True it was “unruly,” and so +far in accordance with the author’s intentions. +The only relief was Sabrina, a very pretty young +person indeed with plenty of fair hair and a good +singing voice. The part was taken by her at the +last, as Miss Margaret Dashwood was taken very +ill the day before. Young Walter Carey believes +her to be dying, and is frantic with grief and +anxiety. A touching spectacle! If she dies he +will have to begin all over again with some one +else, as he is the only son and the baronetcy must +be carried on. Margaret is a sweet girl, though +not the equal of her sister, Mrs. Brandon, but the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>gods defend me from the eldest sister, Mrs. Ferrars! +How she came to be married no one knows! +Was anyone ever better cut out to be an acid +spinster? She blesses the home of the Reverend +Edward Ferrars, who can hardly speak above +a whisper and does not know one end of a gun +from the other. The mother is an amiable woman +enough.</p> + +<p>Do, my dear Pennington, take pity on me and +come and spend a week with me in the autumn, +shooting my covers. I shall depend on your giving +me your society. Till then I shall be prodigiously +bored.</p> + +<p class="author2"> + Your most attached</p> +<p class="author"> + <span class="smcap">John Willoughby</span>. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Such was the account of the doings at Barton +that travelled out to the Baltic, and was taken +on board the “Wren.” In the same letter-bag +came out the orders from the Admiralty recalling +the sloop of war. The “Wren” was to proceed +to Portsmouth, where the crew would be discharged. +Richard Pennington’s gravity of demeanour was +the subject of comment among the men. They +would be glad to get on shore themselves, and +see their homes and wives again, but the Commander +looked as if the order for recall was bad +news.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> + +<p>The theatricals met with more general approval +than would be supposed from Willoughby’s account: +but as with him, so with all, it was Miss Fairfield’s +performance that was most admired. A very +pretty girl and a stranger (for who had noticed the +Careys’ governess?) was bound to be an object +of interest in a neighbourhood where strangers were +rare and beauty not common.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood had made a point of speaking +to her at once, and thanking her for her kindness +in taking her daughter’s place, and, when she left +to return to Margaret, others followed, asking +Lady Middleton for the introduction, or introducing +themselves, until an admiring cluster gathered round +the place on the lawn where Sabrina stood in her +filmy draperies. All of which was more gratifying +to Miss Fairfield than to the other young ladies, +who had all done their best, and had learned very +much longer parts. But rewards are most +unequally distributed in this world, and there +could be no question that, whoever deserved recognition, +it was chiefly to the attendant Spirit, whose +boy’s voice had happened to be delightful in the +summoning song, and to “Sabrina fair” herself, +who had taken no great pains with her part, that +it was given.</p> + +<p>There was to be an informal ball at the Park +in the evening. Sir Francis and Lady Carey +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>took their little girls home, but kindly left Miss +Fairfield to enjoy the dancing. However humdrum +a life she might look forward to on the morrow, +the afternoon and evening of this day were all that +could be desired.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Jennings had planned to walk down to the +Cottage early in the morning after the play to +inquire for Miss Margaret and to tell her all +about it, but Margaret’s indisposition increased, +and a week had passed before she could sit +up in her room and take any interest in affairs +outside it.</p> + +<p>Elinor and her mother nursed her with the +greatest affection and concern. Every day a +messenger came from the Park bringing fruit, +flowers and inquiries, and every day Walter Carey +rode over from Newton for the same purpose. +Elinor, though she did not always remember to +give Margaret messages from Mrs. Jennings and +Sir John, never failed to inform her of Walter’s +visits, and it was not long before Margaret +became aware that her sister had formed plans +and hopes for her, which were to terminate in +her becoming the future Lady Carey of Newton +Hall.</p> + +<p>She was gradually becoming stronger, but was +not considered well enough to read, or to bear +anyone reading aloud to her. Her mind was consequently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>unoccupied, and all the hopes and fears +and longings she had hardly kept at bay now +overwhelmed her.</p> + +<p>Compared with Walter, of whom so much was +known, how little she knew of this man who occupied +her thoughts. She had seen him only four +times, and hardly as many hours had been spent +in his society. He came of “low people,” said +Sir John. Walter was the only son of a baronet. +His profession was precarious and arduous. +Walter’s position was one of ease, and would be +one of wealth. “The hardships of a naval officer’s +wife,” said Mrs. Palmer. The beauty and comfort +of Newton Hall again came to her mind. “No +stability of character,” Elinor had said; but what +did she or Mamma or anyone else know about +that? “I will come back. You will wait,” he +had said—and with that she saw again his grave +face, and, try as she might, she could not displace +it with Walter’s good-humoured smile. She must +see him again before she could decide. If he disappointed +her—were not what she remembered—she +might turn to Walter; but, at the thought, +she felt again the old hope and fear and longing +with which her thoughts began. Over and over +again, round and round with the persistence of a +feverish brain, and the monotony of a tired one, +until she imagined she would be glad if she could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>think that she need never see either of these men +again as long as she lived.</p> + +<p>A week had passed in restless questionings and +decisions. She was sitting in her room and hoping +that the long-deferred call from Mrs. Jennings +would be deferred still longer when she heard that +lady’s voice in the hall. Her mother was out +walking, and her sister was in charge. Mrs. +Jennings had endeared herself to Elinor in past +days, and was always sure of more indulgence +from her than from others of the family, and +Margaret had little doubt that the visitor would +be brought upstairs before long.</p> + +<p>Soon she could hear snatches of their conversation +as they ascended the staircase.</p> + +<p>“You could have knocked me down with a +feather, Mrs. Ferrars. Indeed, I can hardly believe +it yet. Lady Middleton, too, is surprised beyond +measure. What your sister will say I do not +know! It is the sort of thing that could not have +been foreseen, nor prevented, or we would all have +acted very differently. She should never have had +your sister’s part at all in my opinion.”</p> + +<p>The door opened, and Mrs. Jennings came in, +a look of such extreme melancholy on her round, +rosy face as made it exceedingly difficult for +Margaret to avoid laughing at so incongruous an +expression. It was evident, however, that something +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>real, or at least real to her visitor, was causing +the trouble, and Margaret quickly assumed a look +of sympathy as she held out her hand.</p> + +<p>It was taken in both of Mrs. Jennings, and +almost in tears she cried:</p> + +<p>“Oh, my poor dear! Do not you be sorry for +me, my love! Be sorry for yourself! I can hardly +bear to tell you, after all the teasings and jokings +I have done, but your beau is to marry some one +else, and how he can choose so beneath him when +he might have had you is more than I can understand.”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s look of bewilderment brought her +sister to her help.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Jennings has come to tell us of Mr. +Atherton’s engagement,” Elinor said quickly. “A +source of congratulations to us all, dear Mrs. +Jennings, believe me. The vicarage needs a +mistress and Miss Fairfield will be a most agreeable +neighbour to my mother and sister when she +becomes Mrs. Atherton.”</p> + +<p>The relief sent the blood to Margaret’s cheeks +and the smile to her lips. Mrs. Jennings could +not now imagine her to be otherwise than pleasantly +affected by the news, and, as soon as this was +understood and believed, the story could be +unfolded with all the enjoyment proper to the +recital.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p> + +<p>“It seems he first noticed her at the picnic, +so I say it is another marriage to the credit of +Barton Park, for you must have seen, my dears, +that Sir John is for ever planning to bring young +people together, and let them have a chance to +make it up between themselves. Well, then, it +all began at the picnic, and then it went on at the +rehearsals. There they were behind the same +bush all the time, every rehearsal, and she so +sweet and willing, and ready to do every one’s +bidding. Then off you all went to Newton, and +it seems he passed some of the day with her and +the children, and you may be sure it was her he +was thinking of and not the children. I hope +they may have some little ones of their own, +for I am sure they both know how to manage +them, which is more than my daughter Middleton +does—but it’s early days to think of that. Then, +in the evening he schemed to get a dance with +her when she was playing for the ball. He says +you helped him there and indeed he is very grateful +to all who have brought them together. And over +head and ears in love he is—I will say that for +him—and it is to his credit too, for she hasn’t a +penny piece, but he goes on about her as if she +had a hundred thousand pounds. All the time +I thought him wanting to marry you; I never +thought him such a pretty-behaved fellow as he is, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>though my daughter Middleton liked him more +before this happened she says. However, that’s +neither here nor there, for Miss Fairfield likes +him enough for ten, and that’s all that matters to +him.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII"> + CHAPTER XXII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mr. Atherton’s engagement was the chief +topic of conversation on the ensuing days. +All Margaret’s visitors must have something to +say about it. It appeared that he had been very +liberal in his confidences and every one could report +something he had told them of the state of his +mind either before or after his acceptance.</p> + +<p>The power of love in determining the actions +of humanity was once more demonstrated. Mr. +Atherton could not quite succeed in attaching +himself to Margaret, and altogether failed to win +her affections, even though he had the inducement +of a promised fortune. Now he was not only +very much in love himself, but had obtained from +the lady that gratitude and pleasure in his addresses +which would certainly develop into a satisfactory +degree of conjugal affection, all without any money +in the question at all.</p> + +<p>Mr. Atherton, though perhaps a little unreserved +in his raptures, was a very much more +respectable figure in the eyes of the ladies at +Barton Cottage than he had been before. Miss +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>Fairfield was an agreeable girl. His affection for +her was readily understood, and if hers for him +were increased by the prospect of a comfortable +home and an affectionate companion in place of a +dull school-room and other people’s children, it +was not the less comprehensible for that. It +was expected that she would prove a valuable +neighbour.</p> + +<p>Walter Carey’s attentions did not diminish as +Margaret grew stronger, and Elinor’s encouragement +of his visits became an anxiety. Elinor had +interpreted Margaret’s moment of agitation over +Mrs. Jennings’s news, “Your beau is to marry +some one else,” as having reference to Walter, +and in giving him every facility to see her sister +believed herself to be doing a double service. +That is, she wished to believe it, but was not always +able to think of Margaret as being happy in the +visits.</p> + +<p>Margaret had an intense longing to escape from +it all. The days of confinement to her room after +a summer spent in the valley of Barton had given +her a feeling of being hemmed in on all sides, +and Elinor, and even her mother, increased this +sensation by their affectionate solicitude. She +longed greatly for change of scene and society, +so much so that she took the first step to gaining +her desire by confessing to her mother how much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>she would like to go away. She would even be +willing for them to pay a short visit to her brother +at Norland Park rather than remain without +change.</p> + +<p>“We can get back before the autumn, mamma. +I should not wish to stay long, but we have the +month of September before us, and it is a pleasant +month at Norland or anywhere.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was not prepared to take her +daughter to Norland Park. The discussions with +John Dashwood relating to Margaret’s marriage +had given her no desire for his company, and the +subsequent engagement of Mr. Atherton could not +but be the occasion for reproaches, either expressed +or felt, which would be neither pleasant nor profitable. +Margaret, having no idea of her brother’s +plans for her happiness, could not be aware how +deeply he would resent Miss Fairfield’s.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood would not hear of their going +to Norland Park, but the idea that Margaret +needed some change took root in her mind, and +she suggested to Elinor that her sister should +return to Delaford with her, and pass some time +with Marianne. Elinor was very unwilling for such +an arrangement to be made.</p> + +<p>“Consider, mamma,” she said, “how much +Margaret might be sacrificing when indulging this +whim. Do you not think it would be an admirable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>thing if she became engaged to Walter Carey? +It would be a marriage in every way desirable, +and I cannot think it unlikely.”</p> + +<p>“My Elinor, do not let us become affected by +the Park, and imagine every young man who is +reasonably attentive to be a possible suitor,” +replied Mrs. Dashwood. “Margaret is very young. +It is probable that she has not yet seen the man +she is to marry. I cannot allow my plans to be +ruled by any such consideration.”</p> + +<p>Elinor could not restrain a smile. Her mother’s +variableness was no doubt one of her attractions, +but it was impossible for a more sober-minded +daughter to forget so easily how her mother had +furthered her own meetings with Edward at a +time when she herself would have greatly preferred +not to see him, and that Colonel Brandon undoubtedly +owed his present happiness to his mother-in-law’s +warm-hearted assistance. Marianne had +always been quick to follow her mother’s mood, +and at this point would have repudiated all idea +of arranging Margaret’s future, but Elinor’s steadiness +of purpose did not falter.</p> + +<p>“I am convinced,” she went on, “that the +marriage is expected, and would be welcomed by +the Careys. Isabella has said as much to me on +more than one occasion, and therefore I do not +see why it should not be expected and desired +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>by ourselves. There can be no indelicacy in +wishing Walter Carey well. He makes no secret +of his attachment, and I very much wish that +Margaret would be equally unreserved. I sometimes +fear she still thinks of Commander Pennington, +and consider how advantageous it would be for +this to be settled before he returns—if he ever does +return.”</p> + +<p>“I imagine her mind is not made up, therefore +she can have nothing to confide,” said Mrs. Dashwood. +“You would not wish to hurry her decision; +and, indeed,” recollecting herself, “I have +no knowledge that a decision is to be made. Young +men do have their fancies, and it is quite unnecessary +to take them seriously.”</p> + +<p>“It is just for that reason that I feel Margaret +should stay at home. If she leaves Walter may +become attracted by some one else. It is a very +desirable marriage, and, though I would not wish +to take any action in order to bring it about, I +do not see that we need do anything to discourage +it. If Margaret goes to Delaford it will seem to +Walter that she desires to put an end to everything.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot take so serious a view of a change +of air for an invalid,” Mrs. Dashwood said with +impatience. “Walter would be a very unreasonable +young man indeed, and an exasperating +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>husband, if he did not consider Margaret’s health +to be a more important consideration than his own +pleasure in seeing her. I have no idea of his being +of so exacting a nature.”</p> + +<p>Elinor found herself no longer able to keep pace +with her mother’s change of front, but perceiving +that, for whatever reason, the visit to Delaford +was considered desirable, she gave up the discussion +and limited herself to writing to Edward to +make a suggestion which would ensure Margaret’s +absence from home being short.</p> + +<p>Her plan was that Margaret should travel with +Sir John alone; that she herself should remain +with her mother; and that, as it would become +necessary for Edward to fetch his wife later in +the month, he could at the same time bring Margaret +back to Barton. The advantages of this would +be that her mother would not be left alone and +that the time of her sister’s return would be fixed +by her own and Edward’s wishes. By remaining +at Barton she would be able to take some care +of Walter’s feelings. She had been very much +pleased with the young man, and her interest was +awakened for his happiness almost more than for +her sister’s good, and, though smiling as she +thought of her mother comparing her with Mrs. +Jennings and Sir John, she did not feel ashamed +of her wise ordering of other people’s affairs.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> + +<p>Margaret learnt with great pleasure of the +scheme so arranged. On an early day in September +she was to leave Barton unaccompanied either by +her mother or Elinor, with no companion but +Sir John, whose wit would soon be lulled to rest +by the motion of the carriage. He would sleep, +and she would look out of the window and see other +fields and other houses, and a different breed of +cattle.</p> + +<p>At the end of the journey there would be Marianne, +beautiful and affectionate, and not too familiar; +the mansion-house with its spacious rooms and +comfortable corners, and the grounds surrounding +it with trees and lawns. There she hoped to +escape from her thoughts into wider interests. +Colonel Brandon had always something to say +worth hearing. Marianne had the newest books +and music, and Edward Ferrars at the parsonage +was always friendly. No one would think very +much about her, or give her any hints or +advice.</p> + +<p>Sir John agreed to the scheme, after complaining +that he would have only one young lady to amuse +him instead of two. Edward, though reluctant +to be without his wife for a further period, was +willing to do as she desired. Mrs. Dashwood was +glad to have Elinor’s visit prolonged. Marianne +wrote many affectionate messages on Edward’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>second sheet, and Walter Carey, though not consulted +beforehand, was not more than reasonably +disappointed on hearing that Margaret was to +visit her sister in Dorset until her health should be +completely restored.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"> + CHAPTER XXIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The journey could easily be accomplished in +a single day, but Sir John favoured an early +start, and was at the door in his chaise before +Margaret had finished breakfast. The morning +was fair and, the parting over, Margaret settled +herself to enjoyment. She was soon relieved of +all necessity of attending to Sir John by the regular +sound of his slumbers, and the remainder of the +journey, with short halts for refreshment and +change of horses, was spent by her in the delight +of the scenery. She, who had become so greatly +wearied by ordinary home-life with power of movement +and change of occupation, was rested beyond +measure by sitting still in a cramped space and +listening to the snoring of her solitary companion. +So great is the power of change of scene on a restless +heart.</p> + +<p>She arrived at Delaford feeling fresher than +when she had set out. As for Sir John, when he +had completed the series of jerks and groans with +which he roused himself at the stopping of the +carriage, he was ready to assert to Colonel Brandon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>that they had made a capital journey, were great +companions, and that he himself had enjoyed +every minute of it, though he knew Miss Margaret +must have regretted that she had not one of +her beaux with her in place of an old fellow like +himself.</p> + +<p>Sir John might talk about beaux here, but +there was no one to heed him, and he was soon +engaged in a rational conversation with Colonel +Brandon while the sisters chatted in affectionate +intimacy.</p> + +<p>They were a party of five for dinner, as Edward +Ferrars walked up from the parsonage to join them +and to look in at the nursery. Marianne’s beauty, +Colonel Brandon’s sense, Edward’s affection, and +Sir John’s comparative quietness combined to soothe +and comfort Margaret’s spirits, while the spacious +dining-room and well laid-out garden, into which +she strolled with her arm in her sister’s after +dinner, helped to induce the sense of air and +space, mentally and bodily, which was so exactly +what she had desired. They sat under the trees +while Marianne talked of the children, of her +greenhouse, of the neighbours and of her husband. +Margaret indulged her in sympathetic attention, +and an hour passed till the cool of the evening +suggested their returning indoors.</p> + +<p>They were joined by the gentlemen in the drawing-room +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>for tea. While sitting in the half-circle +round the wood fire, which had been lit as a +special grace for the travellers, Edward said +suddenly:</p> + +<p>“I am reminded, I do not know why, unless it +is by the pleasant blaze of that fire, and the company +of Marianne and Margaret, but I am reminded +of a conversation we held long ago at Barton +Cottage. Margaret then remarked how delightful +it would be if some one gave us each a large fortune +and we all went to work to find some way of using +it. Do you remember, Marianne? I recollect that +your mother said she would be puzzled how to +spend it herself if her children were all to be rich +without her help. Do you, Marianne, feel that +you have no longer any wishes for yourself, but +only for that fine boy upstairs?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, no, Edward! There are many things +I should like to do. I would still like, as you +suggested then, to endow young painters and +writers; to buy books and pictures and music; +to have my house often filled with needy artists, +and in every way to assist and encourage them.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Brandon was applied to, but would +only say that, if he had a fortune given to him, +no doubt Marianne would have the spending of it. +He would have to make one stipulation, that he was +allowed a library or a study, or some sort of snuggery +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>to himself, and that no artist or musical or +literary genius should have to be admitted.</p> + +<p>“You would be a very poor host if you made +such restrictions,” said Marianne rebukingly.</p> + +<p>“I should be a very poor man if I could not have +any place to myself. We could make it a shabby +sort of hole with a north aspect and only one good +seat by the fire, so that the geniuses would like +the other parts of my house better, but one place +of my own I must have.”</p> + +<p>Marianne allowed him this indulgence with an +affectionate smile, and Edward was asked to declare +his wishes.</p> + +<p>“I do not think I have any pronounced desires. +I should find it very difficult to change my mode +of life to correspond with wealth. I believe I +must do as Colonel Brandon does, and leave the +spending of it to my wife. What do you say, +Margaret? It was you who first wanted a fortune.”</p> + +<p>“I should travel,” said Margaret.</p> + +<p>“By gad, that’s the thing,” said Sir John. +“All my life I have wanted to go shooting in +Scotland. Fine sport there, I believe! But, what +with the expense of the journey and not having +anyone to go with me, it has always been impossible. +But there is nothing I should like more! Nothing +on my life!”</p> + +<p>“I do not see why we should wait for some one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span>to give us a large fortune apiece before you have +your desire, Sir John,” said Colonel Brandon. “I +have a friend who has frequently asked me to go +and shoot over the moors, and, though the journey +would take some days, if you are not averse to +travelling I should particularly enjoy it. Marianne +will have Margaret here for companion, and we +would not be away above a month.”</p> + +<p>Marianne’s countenance showed that the conversation +had taken a turn which did not please +her; but the offer had been made and Sir John +was accepting it with readiness. It was immediately +arranged that when Sir John had recovered +from the short journey and had a few days’ shooting +round the Delaford Hangers, he should accompany +his host on the longer expedition, and not return +to Delaford till early in October. His home-going +to Barton must be still more remote, but Margaret +was not relying on his chaise to convey her, and was +therefore indifferent to his plans.</p> + +<p>Marianne was very unwilling to face so long a +separation from her husband. She was always +easily moved to joy or sorrow and had only just +got accustomed to the ecstasy of her sister’s arrival, +after a separation of four months, before she was +called upon to face the grief of her husband’s +departure on a visit of pleasure for the space of a +few weeks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> + +<p>In the meantime the days passed happily. +Marianne’s nursery was well-ordered, and the two +little cousins spent only a reasonable time with +their elders, and were taught to behave themselves +on these occasions. Sir John remarked with +wonder that he should never have known there +were children in the house, for nobody had to +search for something they had taken, or mop up +something they had spilt, or mend something they +had torn. Her ladyship told him that their children +were specially high-spirited, and he supposed that +was the reason for their making such a commotion.</p> + +<p>The evenings were spent at the instrument. +Marianne could not bear to hear Edward read +aloud, as she declared he lacked spirit in the +performance, and she was too impatient to read +well herself, but Margaret was very well pleased +to listen again to her sister’s songs, and to take +her place at the pianoforte when she was allowed.</p> + +<p>The few days passed, and Colonel Brandon and +Sir John started on their journey leaving a sensation +of blankness behind them which would only +be filled by prevailing on Edward to spend the day +at the mansion-house.</p> + +<p>He came. Played with his child. Talked of +the news-sheet, and told them how far the travellers +would be on their way, but it was clear that he +was out of spirits, and it was not long before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>Marianne taxed him with this, and demanded to +know the cause.</p> + +<p>“I will not say that I am in low spirits,” he +replied, “but rather that I am perturbed. A +man does not know how to deal with domestic +situations, and I feel I am threatened—that is, I +expect—I mean my mother has written to say +that she intends paying me a few days’ visit. +She is coming with Robert. Lucy is to remain +in London, which is a relief, but my mother and +Robert will be with me from Monday to Friday +next week. I am, of course, glad to receive my +mother, but I could wish that Elinor were at home +to help in her entertainment.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, my dear Edward,” cried Marianne. “Be +thankful that Elinor is not at home! It would be +worse—ten times worse if she were. Remember, +Mrs. Ferrars is your mother. She has no doubt +some affection for you, but think how she dislikes +Elinor, and think, only think, of her manners to +her. You could not have brought me better news. +I rejoice to think that my sister is spared this +visit.”</p> + +<p>Edward could not but look rather foolish at +this fervent condemnation of his mother’s manners, +but being a peaceable man, and having an affectionate +regard for Marianne, he made no objection, +contenting himself with the thought that it was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>not unlikely that in the course of the visit he must +listen to even stronger reprobation from his mother +of Marianne or other of his new connections. +He would allow both criticisms and would agree +with neither.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"> + CHAPTER XXIV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Affectionate mother though she was, +Mrs. Dashwood rejoiced in Margaret’s departure. +She had looked so thin, so weary, and so +low in spirits since her illness that the sight of her +was a continual distress to her mother, who knew +not what to do to help her.</p> + +<p>Elinor’s visit had coincided with a loss of confidence +with Margaret of which no explanation had +occurred to her mother. She did not know that +she had been quoted to Margaret as reprobating +instability in her friend and that so unjust and +unnecessary a condemnation had been with reason +resented. Mrs. Dashwood not only did not know +that this remark had been repeated, she did not +know that it had been made. She did, however, +realize that Elinor and Margaret had no great +affection for each other, beyond that proper to +the tie of relationship. They were sisters, but +they were not friends, and Mrs. Dashwood was +conscious that she preferred their society one at +a time. Marianne and Margaret had much more +in common, and would be happy together, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>when her Elinor had gone her Margaret would +come back and all would be as before, if not more +delightful than ever. Mrs. Dashwood was usually +able to look forward to perfect bliss.</p> + +<p>Sir John’s departure had begun the break-up +of the party at the Park. Mrs. Jennings returned +to London, taking Miss Steele with her, and Lady +Middleton and the children were to follow her +thither in a few days. The frequent visiting and +invitations from the Park now ceased. Mr. Atherton +did not intend neglect, but he was so much +engaged in going to Newton Hall that he came +to the Cottage not more than thrice in the week. +Mary Whitaker was, however, a constant visitor, +and could be depended on to bring news of the +outer world.</p> + +<p>Mr. Willoughby’s reappearance in the neighbourhood +after four years of absence had been the +subject of some comment. It was known that +at one time he had enjoyed the favour of old +Mrs. Smith of Allenham Court, that he had paid +yearly visits to her, and that she had been heard +to speak of him as her heir. Then the time came +when the servants at Allenham had reported to +their acquaintances in Barton village that the old +lady had taken a dislike to Mr. John, and for +several years he had not come near the place. +Last spring he was there again, and Mrs. Willoughby +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>with him, and Mrs. Smith seemed fully as fond +of him as ever before, though she had not taken +to the lady. Mr. John had a way with him that +pleased the old mistress, and when she was taken +ill later in the summer it was “John! John! +John!” she must have, and no one else would do. +He had come, and she had rallied and got about +again, and before he went away Mr. John had +promised he would come if ever she wanted him, +no matter where he was. Little did he think he +would only see her again in her coffin! But so +it was! Mrs. Smith’s own maid had gone into her +bedroom as she always did to draw the blinds, +and it gave her a turn to see how white the mistress +looked there on the pillow, and she did but touch +her hand, and it was cold as death—and well it +might be cold, for the old lady was dead, and +though they sent for the apothecary he could do +nothing but send for her lawyer, and he it was +that had sent for Mr. John. Such was the tale +known to the village, and brought to Mrs. Dashwood +by Mary Whitaker, who had it from Mrs. +Brent at the shop.</p> + +<p>It was possible therefore that in the future the +Willoughbys would be the near neighbours of the +ladies at Barton Cottage unless Allenham Court +were sold or let, which, as Elinor pointed out, +was at least possible. Mrs. Dashwood rejoiced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>in her forethought in again admitting Mr. +Willoughby to their acquaintance, for nothing +could be more uncomfortable than to be constantly +avoiding him. Elinor could not but think that +the Willoughbys would have been less likely to +settle at Allenham Court if her mother and Margaret +had been unforgiving.</p> + +<p>At present all was surmise, for the intelligence +received had its source in the servants’ hall at the +Court, and trickled through various channels before +reaching the Cottage.</p> + +<p>The funeral was not long past before a more +trustworthy informant arrived to give them fuller +particulars. Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor were sitting +together in the parlour when “Mr. Willoughby” +was announced, and he followed Thomas into the +room with his old impetuosity.</p> + +<p>He took Mrs. Dashwood’s hand—she could not +withhold it—and pressed it in his. He bowed to +Elinor, who made a slight movement of greeting, +but it was to Mrs. Dashwood that he addressed +himself. He came to tell her, what she already +knew, that he was the new owner of Allenham. +He spoke of his shame at having forfeited her +friendship, his desire for its renewal, his intention +of spending some months every year at Allenham, +and his fear lest this should be displeasing to her, +though it appeared so desirable to himself. He +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>hoped she would visit his wife, but feared he was +asking too much. He ceased—and Mrs. Dashwood +could make her reply. It was such as might be +expected by those who knew her. She saw no +reason why they should not be neighbours. She +would have pleasure in making Mrs. Willoughby’s +acquaintance. There was nothing in the past to +be regretted. All had turned out for the best.</p> + +<p>“No, no, madam! That I cannot allow. Best +for Marianne, no doubt! It could not be well for +her to depend for her happiness on such a one as +myself. But for me? No, no! I protest, my +regrets must be lifelong, and not the less for being +deserved.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood could not but smile at such +disarming humility and, with the comfortable adage +that bygones should be bygones, changed the conversation +by an inquiry as to the details of Mrs. +Smith’s last illness. It was hoped that she did +not suffer. He replied suitably, and with the +appearance of feeling; and, taking the hint that +no further reference to the past was desired, he +began to discuss the neighbourhood, the improvements +he intended, the tenants of the various +farms, and spoke of Grice’s farm as one that was +in good order and occupied by valuable tenants.</p> + +<p>“I happened to go there in July for a friend’s +address, and had a look round the place and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>chat with Mrs. Grice. My friend was staying there +last April, but, unfortunately, though I was then +at Allenham, I did not know of his being so near +until he was gone. I heard he was in the Baltic, +but had to get the name of the sloop he is commanding. +Did you happen to hear of him? +Pennington is his name.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood remarked that he had dined at +the Park.</p> + +<p>“Yes, that is how I heard of his visit. I was +amazingly disappointed, for I should like of all +things to see him again. These naval officers are +for ever slipping through one’s fingers.”</p> + +<p>“How did you make his acquaintance?” asked +Elinor. She had not spoken before this, and +Willoughby started slightly, but turned to her, all +attention.</p> + +<p>“I met him fairly often at his club playing +cards,” he replied. “I preferred to have him +as a partner rather than as an opponent, so you +can guess the degree of his proficiency. He is +well known at the club, and generally liked. I am +only one of his admirers.”</p> + +<p>Elinor was satisfied with this reply. It confirmed +her opinion that Commander Pennington +was all he ought not to be, and she felt a slight +relenting towards Willoughby for having furnished +this information. Her mother saw with amusement +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>how the conversation affected her, but did not +pursue it.</p> + +<p>Willoughby inquired for Margaret, and learnt +that she was quite recovered, was at Delaford +with Mrs. Brandon, and was not expected home +for some weeks. He thought the air of Delaford—and +the society—likely to be of great benefit, +and mentioned the theatricals with just enough +of wit and sense and not too much of either; +spoke of Mr. Atherton’s approaching marriage, +and commended his choice; alluded to his regret +that Margaret had been unable to take the part +of Sabrina, admired her voice, compared it, again +with a sigh, to Mrs. Brandon’s. Mrs. Dashwood +was about to weary of his conversation when he +got up to take leave, expressing his sincere gratitude +for the graciousness of his reception.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV"> + CHAPTER XXV + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Elinor represented to her mother that the +account Willoughby gave of his friend should +be communicated to Margaret, but Mrs. Dashwood +would not hear of it.</p> + +<p>“I will not have Margaret troubled in the +matter. We know nothing of his feeling, or of +hers, and I am disinclined to exert any influence. +Certainly it appears that he may be something +of a fashionable gambler, but we have only the +word of one man, and he not very trustworthy, +and it is most probable that Commander Pennington’s +character in no wise concerns us. I +cannot have Margaret’s mind disturbed and her +recovery retarded by any disquieting statements +which cannot be proved, and which would probably +only serve to remind her of an incident which is best +forgotten.”</p> + +<p>Elinor’s judgment was thus overruled and no +letter was sent to Margaret describing Willoughby’s +visit. However, she felt herself at liberty to write +freely to Marianne. They had always been deeply +attached, and were completely in each other’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>confidence. It was but natural that her letter +should be without reserve. She crossed it at the +end with the words, “Do not speak of all this to +Margaret,” but as Marianne did not notice this +addition till she had read and reread the letter, +and discussed its contents with Margaret, the +instruction might as well have been omitted.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="author2"> + <span class="smcap">Barton Cottage</span>,</p> +<p class="author"> + <i>September 14th, 1813</i>.</p> + <p> + <span class="smcap">My Dearest Marianne</span>, +</p> + +<p>You will be surprised to hear of the visitor +who called yesterday, and I have some fear that +you will also be displeased. It was John +Willoughby. Margaret may have told you that +he has been in the neighbourhood this summer, +as she herself has seen more of him than we have. +I was at first unwilling to acknowledge his acquaintance, +but my mother wished that we should keep +up the outward appearance of civility, and Margaret +has danced with him on two occasions. We were +not, however, prepared for his calling at Barton +Cottage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith has lately died, and he and Mrs. +Willoughby will live at Allenham for some months +in the year, and he came to beg my mother to +notice his wife. She agreed. You know her +goodness of heart, but I cannot but fear you will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>not approve so much complaisance. Do not, +however, be alarmed, my dearest sister, we will +not allow you to be annoyed by meeting them. +It will not be difficult to time your visits to Barton +so that they shall not coincide with the Willoughbys’ +residence at Allenham. One further communication +I must tell you which troubles me for +Margaret. You will know from her that she has +lately made the acquaintance of a Commander +Pennington in circumstances which I cannot but +think were neither to the credit of his manners +nor of her discretion. However, the acquaintance +was made, and led to his calling on my mother +and some promise of his seeing them again on his +return to England. I regret to say that Willoughby +claims this man as his friend, plays cards with him +at his club, and describes him as a proficient +gamester, well known in London clubs as such. +I hope, however, that his idea has already been +effectually dispelled from her mind by the advances +of Walter Carey, who begged to have news of her +yesterday, and sends her his best regards. The +former incident, as our mother says, is best forgotten, +and I dare say it has already passed from +Margaret’s mind.</p> + +<p>I hope little Edward is good and gives you no +trouble that can be avoided.</p> + +<p>Forgive me, my dearest sister, for vexing you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>with all this concerning the past, but the annoyance +must be known to you now or later.</p> + +<p>I look forward to being with you again; but +enjoy our mother’s society in the extreme.</p> + +<p class="author2"> + Yours affectionately,</p> +<p class="author"> + <span class="smcap">Elinor Ferrars</span>. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Marianne was very much surprised on getting +this letter, as none of the confidences which Elinor +supposed to have passed between Margaret and +herself had taken place.</p> + +<p>She carried it at once to her sister, and laughingly +taxed her with concealment.</p> + +<p>“To think that you have seen Willoughby and +danced with him, and told me nothing of it. I +insist on hearing all about him at once. He was +quite a beau of mine, as Miss Steele would say. +It is amazing to look back and see how differently +I felt in those days, and how little I then thought +of the man who is now so dear to me. But tell +me of Willoughby, Margaret. I must hear all about +him. Did he ask for me?”</p> + +<p>Margaret told her of the stream of questions and +outspoken admiration which had formed the main +part of his conversation, and Marianne was greatly +entertained.</p> + +<p>“Of course you were right, Margaret, to listen +to him and be agreeable. Why should poor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>Willoughby be shunned? It is all so long ago, +and not of any moment now. But now tell me of +this Commander Pennington, his friend.”</p> + +<p>Margaret felt instant agitation, but she asked as +quietly as she could:</p> + +<p>“What do you know of him?”</p> + +<p>“Nay, rather what do you know? Our prudent +Elinor says you made his acquaintance in circumstances +that reflect no credit on his manners or +on your discretion, and that our mother declares +the incident is best forgotten. Come, Margaret, +I must know! Consider how dull a life I lead—my +husband away and no one to amuse me but +Edward and yourself. Do not deny me the +pleasure of a little romance.”</p> + +<p>Margaret turned away. She was unable to +speak. She could not recount the incidents lightly. +She would not willingly make much of them. +Marianne, perceiving her distress, took her gently +by the hand and said:</p> + +<p>“Is it possible that this is more serious than +my mother and Elinor believe? Will you not +confide in me, Margaret? I will not advise you +or blame you for indiscretion. I have been too +indiscreet myself to wish to influence you, but +you are sure of my sympathy and of my affection.”</p> + +<p>Margaret’s reserve was broken down. She told +her sister of the meeting on the downs, of her dread +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>of discussion, of the second meeting, and the third, +and lastly, of the visit to the Cottage. She did +not dwell on these, but her memory was so exact, +her account so clear, that it was evident to Marianne +that her sister had been deeply affected. She led +the conversation to Walter Carey, and his message, +and saw in her sister’s face that the topic was +distasteful. She returned to Commander Pennington, +and spoke of his being a friend of +Willoughby’s.</p> + +<p>“I rather think that our dear Elinor, in the +goodness of her heart towards me, is ready to +think ill of any friend of Willoughby’s, but, indeed, +I do not think it such a serious charge. Willoughby +had many friends of all degrees of intimacy. They +all play cards at the clubs, but I do not know that +there need be any wrong-doing about that. I do +not consider it is proved that your friend should +be called a gamester. As to your meeting and +talking on the downs, it seems to me of all things +most natural. Were you to turn your back on +him after the service he had done you? I sympathize +with you, too, on the question of secrecy. +Willoughby and I were less careful, and we suffered +much from Sir John and dear old Mrs. Jennings, +whom I have long forgiven for the miserable +moments she gave me.”</p> + +<p>Margaret found the relief of this full confidence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>and understanding to be very great. She had not +spoken to her mother on the subject since learning +from Elinor that her mother’s opinion of Commander +Pennington was unfavourable, and she was +young enough to need the relief of speaking her +thoughts. Marianne was delighted. Her joy in +romance was her strength as well as her weakness, +and she was made very happy by hearing of this +which might prove to be a genuine case of love at +first sight.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"> + CHAPTER XXVI + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The elder Mrs. Ferrars was connected with +the Dashwoods in two ways. John Dashwood +had married her daughter, Fanny, and her +elder son, Edward, was the husband of Elinor. +In spite of these intermarriages the two families +were very far from being intimate. Mrs. Dashwood +had never been in company with Mrs. Ferrars, +Marianne only once, and that four years ago.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars was a woman whose only claim to +eminence was her lack of amiability. True, she +was also wealthy, but a number of people were +wealthier, while for sheer ill-nature, unrelieved by +any more important vice, Mrs. Ferrars attained +distinction. Even when obliged to say or do something +that would ordinarily give pleasure she could +contrive to say or do it in a disagreeable manner. +Her visit to Edward was purposely ill-timed. She +disliked his wife rather more than she disliked +most of her acquaintances, and to come when Elinor +was away, and the household not at its best, was +a sure way of humiliating her in several ways at +once. By coming when her son was alone she +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>made it clear that she did not wish to see his wife. +By finding the domestic arrangements inadequate, +the inefficiency of Elinor as a housekeeper was +demonstrated; and in upsetting the servants, by +introducing two of her own to wait on her, she could +feel assured that Elinor’s return home would be rendered +less agreeable by the complaints of her maids.</p> + +<p>Edward himself could feel no pleasure in the +thought of his mother’s visit. She despised him +for his profession, for his wife, for his lack of +fashion, and for his love of rational pursuits. +In order to enforce her disapproval she brought +Robert, the younger brother, whom she professed +to admire for being the opposite of her elder son. +Mrs. Ferrars travelled in state in her own carriage +with her man and maid following in a hired chaise. +They were to arrive in time for dinner on Monday +and stay till the following Friday.</p> + +<p>Edward implored Marianne to come and do the +honours of his dinner-table, but she would not +consent to break in on the family party, only +promising that she and Margaret would walk down +to drink tea with them later. They arrived at +the parsonage at a time when Edward had come +to the end of his conversation and was sitting in +awkward silence, while Robert whistled and +examined the pictures, and Mrs. Ferrars was fully +occupied in looking displeased.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> + +<p>The entrance of two pretty young women could +not but be interesting to Robert, who stared at +them until he was introduced, bowed, and then +stared again.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars remarked disparagingly that Margaret +was very like Elinor. Robert, with the +intention of being agreeable, remarked that his +mother was wrong. Miss Margaret was better-looking +than Elinor. Mrs. Ferrars maintained +that she was right in thinking them very much +alike—they were both pale and small—and Edward +was called upon to decide on the relative beauty, +or lack of beauty, of his wife and her sister.</p> + +<p>Marianne had learnt something in her contact +with the world of fashion. She knew that some +forms of insolence were best met by a like incivility. +She therefore called on Edward to decide whether +the absent Fanny were most like her mother, +Mrs. Ferrars, or her brother, Mr. Robert, and would +have continued the discussion in detail, with comments +on the shapes of noses and the expression of +eyes, if Edward had not stopped it by some obvious +remark about the impossibility of deciding on +likenesses as every one saw them differently.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars eyed her opponent with some +degree of liking. This was much better than +Elinor’s quiet respect, Fanny’s affectionate admiration, +or even than Lucy’s servile adulation. It +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>was seldom that she met with a young woman +who might very well be rude to her, if sufficiently +annoyed. Margaret need only be ignored, but it +could be expected that there would be pleasure in +contradicting Marianne, and even in being contradicted +by her.</p> + +<p>The next subject of conversation was the surprisingly +early hour at which Edward dined. She +had been unable to eat a dinner at four o’clock, +and she could not take supper. Travelling was +very uncomfortable if it entailed such irregular +meals. Here again Marianne was ready for her. +The time that Elinor and Edward had fixed for +their dinner hour was exactly that chosen by the +King and the Royal Family, having been recommended +to the King by the Royal physician as +being the best hour to ensure perfect health. +Again Edward stopped Marianne’s flow of talk +by remarking that it was impossible to decide +on the best time for dinner as every one preferred +a different one, but his mother had but to say +what time she liked and it should be arranged. +This, however, did not please Mrs. Ferrars, for it +robbed her of a ground of complaint. She remarked +that she could not think of making any such +suggestion, and then considered a few moments +before making her next attack.</p> + +<p>Marianne employed the interval by telling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>Edward some of the clever things small Edward +had been saying, all of which were noticed by the +grandmother with only one remark:</p> + +<p>“All children talk in that way if they are too +much indulged.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars now asked for Marianne’s agreement +on a point in question between herself and Edward. +She was dissatisfied to find that Edward was +unwilling to leave the parish for the space of a +week or two in order to accompany her to Scotland. +She evidently did not particularly desire his society, +but she did not like to have to go alone. Edward, +though ready enough to yield on unimportant +matters, was now firm. He would not consider +absenting himself from Sunday duty. As Robert +had engagements in town there was no help for +it. Their mother must go to Scotland alone. +Marianne expressed pity for the lonely traveller, +but agreed with Edward that he could not leave +his work to make one of his mother’s retinue.</p> + +<p>“It is unfortunate, madam, that you did not +come here a little earlier. My husband and his +friend are but just gone to Scotland and would +have been happy to escort you,” said Marianne +with more of politeness than truth.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars made no reply, with the design of +showing Marianne that the happiness would not +have been shared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span></p> + +<p>“They have gone to stay with Lord G—— to +shoot on the moors,” Marianne added.</p> + +<p>This intelligence roused Mrs. Ferrars, whose +acquaintance did not include so many titles as +to render her indifferent to them. Mrs. Brandon, +though Elinor’s sister, appeared to know some +people of importance. She was also rich and +handsome, and these advantages began to have +some effect on Mrs. Ferrars.</p> + +<p>“And why did you not go with them?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“I had my sister with me and the care of the two +children,” replied Marianne.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars darted a vicious look at Margaret, +as though to say that she did not matter, and +continued:</p> + +<p>“Elinor should return. She has been away +quite long enough. If she came back you could +join your husband. Edward, if you will go and +fetch Elinor home I will take Mrs. Brandon to +Scotland. We will start on Friday.”</p> + +<p>Marianne resolutely declined, but Mrs. Ferrars +only looked at her with renewed distaste, and +said:</p> + +<p>“You should be with your husband. Young +women should be with their husbands. Elinor +should not be so long from Edward, and you should +come to Scotland with me.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p> + +<p>Edward was roused to saying that Elinor might +not wish to come home yet, and that Margaret must +be considered.</p> + +<p>Robert was all for solving this problem by taking +Miss Margaret back to London with him to visit +Lucy, and Mrs. Ferrars dealt with it by remarking +that there would be room in the carriage for Miss +Margaret if she did not mind sitting backward.</p> + +<p>Marianne again declared that she had not the +power to accept Mrs. Ferrars’s kind offer of conveying +her to her husband, and soon afterwards +took leave, being sped on her way by a look of +resentment from the little lady’s eye and a final: +“You should be with your husband.” While +Margaret was dismissed with a nod and the information +that she was certainly very like her sister +Elinor.</p> + +<p>Marianne was not so entirely opposed to the +scheme of joining her husband in Scotland as she +had pretended. The difficulties were not great, +and she had only dwelt on them with the intention +of being contradictory. She felt—Marianne was +incapable of scheming—but she felt, without putting +it into words, that to decline Mrs. Ferrars’s proposal +would only make her more determined that it +should be accepted. It would certainly be renewed +on every occasion that they met, with added venom +and reproach.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span></p> + +<p>As the sisters returned to the mansion-house +Marianne put before Margaret the advantage of +the scheme, beginning with the charm of being +again with her husband and ending with that of +being in a position to tease Mrs. Ferrars through a +journey of several days.</p> + +<p>“I delight in vexing her. She has not been +opposed as she should, and it must be of use to +her to have something to be cross about and some +one who deserves her displeasure. She would be +just as cross anyway, and for less reason. I +consider that, while amusing myself, I do her a real +service.”</p> + +<p>“I question if it would be good for either of +you for so long a time as the journey to Scotland +would occupy, or in so small a space as her coach.”</p> + +<p>“No, I should be obliged to rest sometimes, +or the enjoyment of quarrelling would lessen. +But consider, Margaret, would you not greatly +like to see Scotland? You have never been far +from home, and you said but a few days ago how +much you wished to travel. This method of +travelling would be comfortable and respectable. +We could not go in a public conveyance, but we +may be sure that, however disagreeable Mrs. +Ferrars may wish to be, there will be nothing +about her arrangements to displease us. Do let +us see if it can be managed. Edward could start +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>for Barton to-morrow, and Elinor and he would +be back on Friday. Nanny can be trusted to +care for the children for the one day that we shall +all be away. If you consent I will write to Mamma, +and Edward can take it to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>Margaret saw that her sister was attracted by +the idea, and would not oppose her. Edward +could be relied on to do as he was asked, for there +could be no question of their journeyings interfering +with his Sunday work. He would certainly +rejoice in the prospect of missing the remainder +of his mother’s visit, and getting his wife home. +Margaret was willing to leave the decision to +Marianne. There was no fear that their stay in +Scotland would be a long one, for as soon as she +was with her husband Marianne would certainly +begin to long for her child, and the scheme of +joining Colonel Brandon would be more likely +to shorten than to lengthen his absence from +home.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"> + CHAPTER XXVII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Elinor was surprised on Tuesday afternoon, +while sitting at work with her mother, to +hear familiar footsteps coming up the path. It +was Edward, bringing news of the intended visit +to Scotland, of Margaret’s improved health, of +the well-doing of their child, and lastly, though this +was not explicitly stated, of his mother’s continued +ill-temper. Elinor was happy to have him with +her, and Mrs. Dashwood scarcely less so. She was +delighted with the scheme for taking Margaret to +Scotland, delighted to have news of her grandchildren, +and, though regretting Elinor’s nearer +departure, delighted to think of her daughter +having the pleasure of her husband’s society.</p> + +<p>The dinner-hour was never more pleasantly +spent, Mrs. Dashwood expressing in every look +and word that affection for her sons-in-law which +so greatly enhanced the happiness of their wives.</p> + +<p>Dinner being over, Edward wished to walk down +to the village, where he had left his chaise and +horses, see to the comfort of the latter, and call +at the parsonage for a word with Mr. Atherton. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>Mrs. Dashwood agreed to accompany him, and +they walked away together.</p> + +<p>Elinor was still standing at the gate after seeing +them on their way when she became aware of +some one approaching from the opposite direction. +It was a stranger to her; an agreeable-looking +man. He walked fast, and was soon near. Though +she had still no idea of his being acquainted +with her, from his stopping and bowing she +saw that he, at least, claimed some knowledge +of her.</p> + +<p>“My name is Pennington,” he said, “I am +acquainted with Mrs. Dashwood and her daughter. +Is it to Mrs. Ferrars that I speak?”</p> + +<p>This last was a conjecture founded on +Willoughby’s description of Elinor, which her +expression at the moment almost justified.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am Mrs. Ferrars. My mother is out +walking. Can I give her a message from you when +she returns?”</p> + +<p>She did not ask him to come in, and he did not +appear to wish it. He only looked at her steadily +and asked:</p> + +<p>“Is Margaret well?”</p> + +<p>She replied in a simple affirmative.</p> + +<p>“Is she at home?”</p> + +<p>“My sister is at Delaford with Mrs. Brandon,” +then, as his face showed a determination which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>she construed correctly, she added: “Unless she +has already started for a tour in Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“You do not know for certain?” he asked.</p> + +<p>Elinor replied that she believed they had not +started yet. She was angry with herself for telling +him so much, but his questions and his look were +so direct that she must be sincere.</p> + +<p>He thanked her courteously, said he would write +to Mrs. Dashwood, and walked off as he had come, +leaving her with some regrets for her lack of +cordiality. Her regrets would have been increased, +though the grounds changed, if she had been able +to see round the corner of the lane. For as he +walked along with head bent in thought, he was +hailed by whom but Willoughby!</p> + +<p>Richard Pennington was decidedly the less +interested of the two, but he nodded pleasantly, +shook hands, and asked:</p> + +<p>“What brings you here?”</p> + +<p>“Nay, I might rather ask that,” said Willoughby. +“I thought you were to be in the Baltic for another +month at least.”</p> + +<p>“We were recalled on the very day I got your +letter. We were paid off yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then! Again I ask you what brings +you here? Here is a man just come ashore, and +with money in his pocket, and he spends his time +in a Devonshire village. What’s the attraction? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>I know Mrs. Grice was once your nurse, but you +can surely do without her for a few months at a +time?”</p> + +<p>Richard Pennington’s reply was that he was +leaving Barton at once. Willoughby immediately +asked if he was going to London, and if so offered +a seat in his curricle.</p> + +<p>“I may go to London eventually, but at present +I am on my way to a place called Delaford. Have +you any knowledge of its whereabouts?”</p> + +<p>“Delaford? I have never been there, but I +have a friend, an old friend, who lives at the +mansion. I will drive you thither on my way +to London, and perhaps call on my friend. No! +best not, but I will certainly take you there. I +suppose you have business to transact. Do you +know the Brandons?”</p> + +<p>Pennington replied that he did not. He did +not feel for Willoughby the degree of confidence +and friendship which was professed for himself, +and though willing to take a seat in the curricle +and to talk on affairs in the Baltic or other less +important matters, he had no idea of discussing +his errand to Delaford with anyone.</p> + +<p>“I must write a letter and pack my bag, and +will then be at your service,” he said, “if, as I +understand, you wish to start this evening. Otherwise +I will see if I can hire a chaise.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span></p> + +<p>“You are in a hurry! However, I am willing +to start in an hour’s time if it pleases you. There +is moonlight, and we shall be well on our way +before dark. We can sleep at Honiton and reach +Delaford in the morning.”</p> + +<p>Richard Pennington returned to the farm, wrote +a short note to Mrs. Dashwood, and was gone +before the farm-lad, to whom he gave it for delivery, +had put it into Thomas’s hand at the door of Barton +Cottage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood and Edward returned from their +walk, chatting of trivial matters. They were met +by Elinor with so disturbed and anxious a countenance +that her mother took instant alarm.</p> + +<p>“Have you bad news? Has a post come while +we were away, or a messenger?”</p> + +<p>Elinor reassured her. Nothing untoward had +happened. There had been a visitor, and she +had been uncertain how to act, but hoped she had +done right.</p> + +<p>“Tell me, Elinor, what is it? I insist on knowing +the worst.”</p> + +<p>“Pray, mamma, do not be disturbed. The +visitor was Commander Pennington. He asked +for you, and I told him you were not within, and +he asked for Margaret, and I fear I did wrong—but +I told him where Margaret is.”</p> + +<p>“I do not see why that should be wrong,” said +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>Mrs. Dashwood. “I suppose he will come and +see me again. Did he say where he was staying? +He did not expect to be in England again so soon, +when he left us last April.”</p> + +<p>She spoke in a light, cheerful tone. She had +always considered that Elinor thought too much +both of Richard Pennington’s admiration of Margaret +and of his possible shortcomings. Elinor’s +kindness and goodness of heart must always be +valued, but her mother did sometimes wish she +would be less serious.</p> + +<p>“Who is this Commander Pennington?” asked +Edward. “Is it that admirer of Margaret’s? By +the way, I wonder if by any chance he is Richard +Pennington. If so, I knew him some six or seven +years ago, long before I became a country parson. +He spent some of his leave with a friend of mine, +an excellent fellow. I wish I had seen him.”</p> + +<p>Poor Elinor! Her discretion had been too great, +and she regretted it as she had never expected to +regret the exercise of her favourite virtue. Her +mother appeared to think her discretion as unimportant +as anything else in the matter. The +subject was swept aside, and Edward was led to +give an entertaining account of Mrs. Ferrars at +Delaford Parsonage, and the various grounds of +complaint over Elinor’s arrangements, which +amused both ladies excessively. Elinor, secure +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>in Edward’s satisfaction, cared for no other criticism, +and Mrs. Dashwood shed tears of laughter +at the account Edward gave of Mrs. Ferrars’s +servants compelled to associate with the parsonage +maids, who knew nothing of London ways.</p> + +<p>Edward’s bag must now be unpacked, and Elinor +went with him to see him do it, and arrange his +handkerchiefs and brushes as he liked. They had +not been together for some weeks, and it was +natural that some half-hour should be occupied +in what need not have taken many minutes. While +they were absent a note was handed to Mrs. Dashwood, +which she read with astonishment:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p> + <span class="smcap">Dear Madam</span>, +</p> + +<p>I called this evening in the hope of seeing +your daughter, Margaret. If I had been so fortunate +as to find you at home I should have told +you of my errand, which was to ask your daughter +to become my wife. I hear that she is starting +for Scotland almost immediately. There is therefore +no time to be lost if I am to see her before +she goes. When this is in your hands I shall be +on my way to Delaford.</p> + +<p class="author3"> + Believe me, dear madam,</p> +<p class="author2"> + Yours obediently,</p> +<p class="author"> + <span class="smcap">Richard Pennington</span>. +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood read and reread the letter. +She had to decide at once. Should she, or should +she not, speak of it to Elinor? She decided that +she would not do so; shut it in her desk, and +stood by the window looking out at the rising +moon. She would not answer the letter. He +did not ask for her consent—it was not her consent +that he wanted—but as she remained there +looking out into the garden, and thinking of +her Margaret at Delaford, she gave him her consent, +and wished him well with all her heart.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"> + CHAPTER XXVIII + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>Mrs. Ferrars, as Marianne expected, +repeated her request that the sisters should +accompany her to Scotland. She was none the +less surprised at having her offer accepted.</p> + +<p>The contest between the elder and the younger +lady was still carried on, but the ground of difference +was changed. It was not now whether Marianne +should or should not join her husband in Scotland, +but whether she was doing so to please herself +or out of kindness to Mrs. Ferrars, who always +assumed the one reason and Marianne the other.</p> + +<p>It was Wednesday morning. Edward had left +on Tuesday, was giving his horses two days’ rest, +and would return on Friday, bringing Elinor back +to take charge of the children and soothe her +disturbed household. Mrs. Ferrars, Marianne and +Margaret were to start early on Friday, with man +and maid in the chaise behind, and intended to +reach Bath in time for the Sunday. The journey +was to be continued at a similarly leisurely pace +and Margaret looked forward with great interest to +the coming week.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> + +<p>This morning Marianne found it necessary to +go to the village to give some orders, and had +added that she proposed to look in on Mrs. Ferrars +to give her something vexatious to think about. +As soon as she was gone, Margaret took some +work and went to sit in an old yew arbour which +stood on a mound against the high wall that +surrounded the garden. Thence she could see +Marianne walking along the lane towards the +village, the morning coach passing on the turnpike +road, then a cart, and later a gentleman’s carriage.</p> + +<p>It was a cheerful place in which to spend an +hour or two in the open air without the fatigue of +walking or the necessity for change of dress. She +had been settled there for about half an hour +when she noticed a curricle coming along the road +at a rapid pace. It stopped, and a man got out, +and spoke to his companion, who then drove +forward more slowly. Margaret had nothing very +particular to do, and at first she watched this +figure with idle interest, but it was not long before +she became aware that he had turned into the +lane, not long before she knew who it was, and +not long before he was standing below her on +the other side of the wall, and looking up.</p> + +<p>“May I come up there, Margaret?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you can,” she replied, “but there is a +way round by the great gate.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> + +<p>The gallant Commander was not the man to +go round by any great gate when a more direct +way was before him. The wall was of rough +stone, and some of the stones projected. He +was soon near the top, but then experienced some +difficulty.</p> + +<p>“Shall I give you a hand?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, if you will,” said he.</p> + +<p>He did not, however, give up the hand when +he was beside her in the gazebo. They sat down +together, and though Margaret might ask questions +about the journey it was difficult to keep up +a purely formal conversation when he held her +hand. So it was not long before she was silent, +and he began to speak, and told her of his errand. +It was to ask her a simple question, and, when +she heard the question, she was in no doubt as to +the answer.</p> + +<p>When Marianne returned from her latest discussion +with Mrs. Ferrars she heard that which +put all quarrels out of her head. It was a joyful +day for Marianne. She was not the less in love +with romance because she was also in love with +the Colonel, and by the time she had heard all +they would tell her she was, outwardly at least, +by far the most enthusiastic of the three. They +quitted her soon to indulge in the endless discussions, +the long silences, the renewed converse, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>which are so familiar to all who have been in love. +Marianne was left to the enjoyment of her own +thoughts and the formation of further plans.</p> + +<p>It was not until dinner was over and Marianne +had exercised her right as hostess to secure their +company in the drawing-room that she produced +her scheme.</p> + +<p>“Richard,” she asked, “how soon do you wish +to be married?”</p> + +<p>“As soon as is possible,” he replied promptly.</p> + +<p>“I will not ask Margaret. She would only give +me some evasive reply, but I will ask her another +question. Do you want to have every one at +Barton asking you questions and then inventing +the answers and saying you said this or that, and +noticing when you blush, and teasing you and +vexing you in every imaginable way?”</p> + +<p>“I do not think I mind very much. I am used +to that sort of thing, and now——”</p> + +<p>“That is the wrong answer, Margaret,” said +Richard. “You should have replied as I did, +in the way your sister expected. You should have +said simply ‘No.’”</p> + +<p>“Her answer was perfectly satisfactory to me, +thank you, Richard. She ended it with ‘and +now.’ That means, does it not, Margaret, that +being to marry Richard makes everything right. +Correct me if I am wrong. I do not wish to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>attribute to you anything you do not willingly +admit.”</p> + +<p>Margaret willingly admitted as she was asked, +and Marianne expressed herself satisfied.</p> + +<p>“Richard wishes to get married as soon as +possible, and Margaret admits that nothing else +matters. Now for my third question, which is +for both of you. Do you wish to please me +greatly?”</p> + +<p>This was immediately agreed to by both.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, do, do come to Scotland with us, +Richard, and be married there. It is the most +entrancing scheme. I have been thinking of it +half the morning. Margaret and I will travel with +Mrs. Ferrars, and you will follow in a hired chaise. +At all the stops there you will be, and I will present +you to Mrs. Ferrars as a mere acquaintance. We +shall spend Sunday in Bath, and I will take care +that she is kept out of the way, but she is bound +to see you, and to find out that you are following +us, and she will be so delightfully angry at your +continued appearances, and abuse you so much, +and I shall enjoy myself beyond measure.”</p> + +<p>Margaret protested that their marriage was +being pressed into service to keep up the contest +with Mrs. Ferrars, but Marianne would not have +it so. She had other and better reasons to urge.</p> + +<p>“Do think how deplorably unromantic our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>marriages have been. Mamma, to begin with, +marrying Papa, years and years older than herself, +and a widower of all things. Then Elinor, with +dear good Edward, who is the most prosaic creature +in the world, and as to myself, though I would not +have anything different, no one can possibly think +my marriage in the least romantic. Now you two +have the most amazing opportunity. Nothing +could exceed the delightful romance of your situation. +To make it perfect you must elope.”</p> + +<p>“Mamma——” began Margaret.</p> + +<p>“Mamma will be delighted,” went on Marianne. +“She said at my wedding that she hoped she +would never have to undergo so much of fuss and +ceremony again. She even said she hoped you +would elope when your turn came, though I do +not suppose she quite meant that. However, +there can be no harm in taking her at her word.”</p> + +<p>“That is not what I meant,” said Margaret. +“I did not think she would particularly desire +wedding festivities, but I think she should know +what is happening, that her consent——”</p> + +<p>“I wrote to her before I came away,” said +Richard.</p> + +<p>This was unexpected.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean she knows?” asked Margaret.</p> + +<p>“She knows what I wanted.”</p> + +<p>“And she did not object? She consented,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>declared Marianne. “There can be no question +of it. If she had wished to prevent it she would +have done so.”</p> + +<p>“She did not have very much time,” said +Richard.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mamma always says if she does not wish +anything. Besides, she would never oppose us +in anything that was of real importance. I am +sure Mamma would be on my side. She would +love to vex Mrs. Ferrars.”</p> + +<p>“There is one thing I do not like,” said Richard. +“How about the Colonel? This is his house. I +do not want to elope from it without his consent.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Marianne. “That is another point. +You would never, never guess it to look at him, +but my husband was once all ready prepared to +elope himself, only all was discovered.”</p> + +<p>“With you?” asked Richard, puzzled.</p> + +<p>“No, not with me, with another lady, long, +long ago. It is a great secret; but it will be +impossible for him to make any objection to elopements +from his house. Also, I really do not see +what else is to be done. You would not wish +Margaret to go to Scotland, and leave you here?”</p> + +<p>Richard agreed that he would not.</p> + +<p>“Of course she could stay on at the parsonage +with Elinor.”</p> + +<p>Margaret thought not.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span></p> + +<p>“Well, then, there is nothing for it but for you +to come to Scotland with us, and when there it +would be a pity not to get married. For if you +do you can go straight back together to Mamma, +and you will see at once if you have vexed her. +But I think it will amuse and please her of all +things.”</p> + +<p>It did really seem to be a plan of some convenience. +Marianne assumed it to be settled. +Richard found it very much to his liking, and +Margaret only stipulated that they should write +without delay to her mother.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> + + + <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"> + CHAPTER XXIX + </h2> +</div> + + +<p>The elopement took place, with the unconscious +Mrs. Ferrars and the deeply interested +Mrs. Brandon as chaperones. It was, of course, a +very romantic affair.</p> + +<p>The journey through England was as delightful +as such a journey must be. It was leisurely, and +if Mrs. Dashwood had wished to stop them she +could very easily have done so. Thirty-six hours +were spent in Bath, and at each stopping-place +they arrived in time for dinner and did not proceed +till the next day. Commander Pennington had +no idea of keeping out of sight, and Mrs. Ferrars’s +anger steadily grew, while her curiosity was not +aroused. When they reached the Border the +wedding ceremony was short and to the point. +Marianne returned to the carriage without her +sister, and stated that she would not accompany +them farther as she was now married. The effect +of this news on Mrs. Ferrars was all that Marianne +had desired. It was even greater than she had +expected, and she was not at all sorry to part +from her when they came to the meeting-place +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>at which Colonel Brandon had been charged to +appear.</p> + +<p>He was there, somewhat bewildered at his wife’s +unlooked-for decision to follow him, and not less +so when he heard a part of the romantic adventure +which had just been achieved.</p> + +<p>If Marianne supposed that an elopement would +give people less to talk about than an ordinary +wedding she was mistaken, but if, after hearing +what Colonel Brandon had to say to her, she was +afraid that she had hurried her young sister into +an imprudent marriage, she was again mistaken, +for the marriage proved a very happy one. It +was founded, not on long friendship, careful choice, +the wishes of true friends, similarity of tastes or +equality of fortune, not in fact on any of those +circumstances which bring about successful unions, +but on that which happens to some few fortunate +mortals and is called “Love at first sight.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dashwood was easily placated. She had +never been very angry, though she would have +counselled delay if she had been given the opportunity +to offer advice. Nothing was left for her +to do but to be kind and welcoming, and nothing +was so easy. Richard Pennington was soon as +well-beloved as her other sons-in-law, and not +far behind them in the affection he returned.</p> + +<p>The life of a naval officer’s wife, though not so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>full of hardships as Mrs. Palmer had predicted, +was not easy. It was long before Commander +Pennington attained post-rank. He was employed +on a guardship off Malta for some years, and +Margaret had her wish of travelling, but not in +circumstances of great wealth.</p> + +<p>When William IV came to the throne he took +care of the navy, and a great many officers who had +fancied themselves forgotten got a pleasant surprise. +Richard was among them, and became Captain +Pennington. He got no further promotion, but +was contented with this step in rank. They had +but one son, and their income was sufficient for +their needs.</p> + +<p>If Margaret had less of some things than her +sisters she had more of others. Marianne was right +in saying that Margaret’s marriage was romantic +for she had that kind of happiness which is not +deserved because no one can deserve it, and Richard +Pennington shared that happiness because he made +it.</p> + +<p>But happiness <i>should</i> result from well-doing. +It must be as distressing to the reader as it is to +the writer to notice that if Commander Pennington’s +manners had been better he would have allowed +Margaret to go home without attempting to make +her acquaintance on High-church down; and if +she had had more discretion she would have withdrawn +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>after a proper acknowledgment of his +politeness, returned home, and no doubt become +Lady Carey in due course. <i>She</i> might have been +almost as happy in that case, and would certainly +have been richer and more comfortable, but there +is no doubt that <i>Richard’s</i> happiness resulted +from his lapse in manners, and Margaret’s inattention +to decorum.</p> + + +<p class="ph4">THE END</p> + + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="tnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_note"> + Transcriber’s note + </h2> + + + +<p>Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice.</p> + +<p>Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following +changes:</p> + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_72">72</a>: “She was in her”</td> +<td></td> +<td class="tdl">“She was on her”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_81">81</a>: “with patient displeasure”</td> +<td></td> +<td class="tdl">“with patent displeasure”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Page <a href="#Page_155">155</a>: “had noticed the Carey’s”</td> +<td></td> +<td class="tdl">“had noticed the Careys’”</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77271 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |