Hello.
Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,
Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.
Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.
But before we begin,
Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
That's it.
Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.
It is time to relax and fully let go.
There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Chapter 33 Chapter 33 After some opposition,
Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties and consented to go out with her and Mrs Jennings one morning for half an hour.
She expressly conditioned,
However,
For paying no visits and would do no more than accompany them to Grey's in Sackville Street,
Where Eleanor was carrying on negotiation for the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
When they stopped at the door,
Mrs Jennings recollected there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call,
And as she had no business at Grey's,
It was resolved she should pay her visit and return for them.
On ascending the stairs,
The Miss Dashwoods found one gentleman only was standing there and it is probable that Eleanor was not without hope of exciting his politeness to a quicker dispatch.
He was giving orders for a toothpick case for himself and till its size,
Shape and ornaments were determined,
He had no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two ladies than what was compromised in three or four very broad stairs.
Marianne was bared from the troublesome feelings of content and resentment on this impertinent examination of their features by remaining unconscious of it all,
For she was as well able to collect her thoughts within herself and be as ignorant of what was passing round her in Mr Grey's shop as in her own bedroom.
At last the affair was decided.
The ivory,
The gold and the pearls all received their appointment and the gentleman,
Having named the last day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of the toothpick case,
Drew on his gloves with leisurely care and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods,
Walked off with a happy air of real conceit.
Eleanor lost no time in bringing her business forward and was on the point of concluding it when another gentleman presented himself at her side.
She turned her eyes towards his face and found him with some surprise to be her brother.
Their affection and pleasure in meeting were just enough to make a very creditable appearance in Mr Grey's shop.
John Dashwood was really far from being sorry to see his sisters again,
It rather gave them satisfaction,
And his inquiries after their mother were respectful and attentive.
I wish very much to call upon you yesterday,
Said he,
But it was impossible for we were I wish very much to call upon you yesterday,
Said he,
But it was impossible for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts at Exeter Exchange and we spent the rest of the day with the Mrs Ferrars,
But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call in Barclay Street and be introduced to your friend Mrs Jennings,
And the Middletons too,
You must introduce me to them.
They are excellent neighbours to you in the country,
I understand.
Excellent indeed,
Their attention to our comfort and their friendliness in every particular is more than I can express,
Said Eleanor.
I am extremely glad to hear it,
But so it ought to be they are people of large fortune and related to you and every civility might be reasonably expected.
And so you are comfortably settled in your little cottage and want for nothing.
Edward brought us the most charming account of the place and you all seem to enjoy it beyond anything.
Eleanor did feel a little ashamed of her brother and was not sorry to be spared the necessity of answering him by the arrival of Mrs Jennings' servant,
Who came to tell her his mistress waited for them at the door.
Mr Dashwood attended them downstairs and was introduced to Mrs Jennings at the door of her carriage.
His visit was duly paid,
He came with a pretense at an apology from their sister-in-law for not coming too,
But she was so much engaged with her mother she really had no leisure for going anywhere.
Mrs Jennings however assured him directly that she should not stand upon ceremony for they were all cousins and she should certainly wait on Mrs John Dashwood very soon and bring her sisters to see her.
His manners to them were perfectly kind to Mrs Jennings most attentively civil and on Colonel Brandon's coming in soon after himself he eyed him with a curiosity which seemed to say he only wanted to know him to be rich to be equally civil to him.
After staying with him half an hour he asked Eleanor to walk him to Conduit Street and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.
As soon as they were out of the house his inquiries began.
Who is Colonel Brandon?
Is he a man of fortune?
Yes,
He has a very good property in Dorsetshire.
I am glad of it,
He seems a most gentleman-like man and I think Eleanor may I congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectable establishment in life?
Me brother?
What do you mean?
He likes you,
I am convinced of it.
What is the amount of his fortune?
I believe about two thousand a year.
Two thousand a year?
Eleanor I wish with all my heart it were twice as much for your sake.
Indeed I believe you replied Eleanor but I am very sure Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me.
You are mistaken Eleanor,
Perhaps just at present the smallest of your fortune may make him hang back but there can be no reason why you should not try for him.
It is not to be supposed any prior attachment on your side,
In short you know as to an attachment of that kind is quite out of the question,
The objections are insurmountable,
You have too much sense not to see all that.
Colonel Brandon must be the man,
It is a match that must give universal satisfaction,
In short it's a kind of thing that will be exceedingly welcome to all parties.
Eleanor would not vouchsafe any answer.
It would be something remarkable now,
He continued,
Something draw,
If Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at the same time.
Is Mr.
Edward Ferrars,
Said Eleanor with resolution,
Going to be married?
It is not actually settled but there is such a thing in agitation,
He has a most excellent mother.
Mrs.
Ferrars with the utmost liberality will come forward and settle on him a thousand a year if the match takes place.
The lady is the Honourable Miss Morton with 30,
000 pounds,
A thousand a year is a great deal for a mother to give away,
To make over forever,
But Mrs.
Ferrars has a noble spirit.
To give you another instance of her liberality,
The other day as soon as we came to town she put banknotes into Fanny's hands to the amount of 200 pounds,
And extremely acceptable it is for we must live at great expense when we're here.
He paused for her assent and compassion and she forced herself to say,
Your expenses both in town and country must certainly be considerable,
But your income is a large one.
Not so large,
I dare say,
As many people suppose,
He said.
I have made a little purchase within this half year,
East Kingham Farm,
Where old Gibson used to live.
The land was so very desirable for me in every respect,
So immediately adjoining my own property I felt it my duty to buy it.
A man must pay for his convenience,
And it has cost me a vast deal of money.
More than you think it really and intrinsically worth?
Why,
I hope not.
I might have sold it again the next day for more than I gave,
But with regard to the purchase money I might have been unfortunate indeed,
For the stocks were at that time so low,
If I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker's hands,
I must have sold it to a very great loss.
Eleanor could only smile.
Are the great and inevitable expenses we have too had on first coming to Norland.
Our respected father,
As you well know,
Bequeathed all the Stanhill effects that remained in Norland to your mother.
In consequence of it we have been obliged to make large purchases of linen,
China etc.
To supply the place of what was taken away.
You may guess after all these expenses how very far we must be from being rich,
And how acceptable Mrs Ferrer's kindness is.
Certainly,
Said Eleanor,
And assisted by her liberality,
I hope you may yet live to be in easy circumstances.
Another year or two may do towards it,
He gravely replied,
But however there's a great deal to be done.
Having now said enough to make his poverty clear,
His thoughts took a cheerful return and he began to congratulate Eleanor on having such a friend as Mrs Jennings.
She seems a most valuable woman indeed.
Her inviting you to town is certainly a vast thing in your favour,
And it speaks altogether so great a regard for you that in all probability when she dies you will not be forgotten.
She must have a great deal to leave.
Nothing at all,
I suppose,
For she has only her jointure which will descend to her children,
Said Eleanor.
But it is not to be imagined she lives up to her income,
And whatever she saves she'll be able to dispose of.
And do you not think it more likely she should leave it to her daughters than to us?
Her daughters are both exceedingly well married,
And therefore I cannot perceive the necessity of remembering them further,
He said.
By her taking so much notice of you,
She's given you a sort of claim on her future consideration,
And she can hardly do all this without being aware of the expectations she raises.
But she raises none in those most concerned.
Indeed,
Brother,
Your anxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far.
Why,
To be sure,
Said he,
Seeming to recollect himself.
People have little,
Very little in their power,
But,
My dear Eleanor,
What is the matter with Marianne?
She looks quite unwell.
She's lost her colour and is grown quite thin.
She is not well,
Said Eleanor.
She has had a nervous complaint on her for several weeks.
I am sorry for that.
At her time of life,
Anything of an illness destroys the bloom forever.
She was as handsome a girl last September as ever I saw,
And is likely to attract the men.
I remember Fanny used to say she would marry sooner and better than you did.
I question whether Marianne now will marry a man worth more than five or six hundred a year at the utmost,
And I am very deceived if you do not do better.
Eleanor tried very seriously to convince him there was no likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon,
But it was an expectation of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished.
He had just compunction enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself to be exceedingly anxious that everybody else should do a great deal,
And an offer from Colonel Brandon or a legacy for Mrs Jennings was the easiest means of atoning for his own neglect.
They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home,
And Sir John came in before their visit ended.
Sir John was ready to like anybody,
And though Mr Dashwood did not seem to know very much about horses,
He soon set him down as a very good-natured fellow,
While Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in his appearance to think his acquaintance worth having,
And Mr Dashwood went away,
Delighted with both.
