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.
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 The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex.
Their residence was at Norland Park in the centre of their property,
Where for many generations they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance.
The late owner of this estate was a single man who,
For many years of his life,
Had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister.
But her death produced a great alteration in his home,
For to supply her loss,
He invited into his house the family of his nephew,
Mr Henry Dashwood,
The legal inheritor of the Norland estate,
And the person to whom he intended to bequeath it.
In the society of his nephew and niece and their children,
The old gentleman's days were comfortably spent.
The constant attention of Mr and Mrs Henry Dashwood to his wishes gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could receive,
And the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his existence.
By a former marriage,
Mr Henry Dashwood had one son,
By his present lady,
Three daughters.
The son,
A steady,
Respectable young man,
Was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother,
Which had been large,
And half of which devolved on him on his coming of age.
By his own marriage,
Likewise,
He added to his wealth.
To him,
Therefore,
The succession of the Norland estate was not so really important as to his sisters,
For their fortune could be but small.
Their mother had nothing,
And their father only £7,
000 in his own disposal.
The old gentleman died.
He was neither so unjust nor so ungrateful as to leave his estate from his nephew,
But he left it to such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest.
Mr Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife and daughters than for himself or his son,
But to his son,
And his son's son,
A child of four years old,
It was secured in such a way as to leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear to him.
The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child,
Who had so far gained on the affections of his uncle by such attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years old,
As to outweigh all the value of all the attention which he had received from his niece and her daughters.
He meant not to be unkind,
However,
And as a mark of his affection for the three girls,
He left them £1,
000 apiece.
Mr Dashwood's disappointment was at first severe,
But his temper was cheerful and sanguine,
And he might reasonably hope to live many years,
And by living economically,
Lay by a considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large and capable of most immediate improvement.
But the fortune was his only one twelve-month.
He survived his uncle no longer,
And £10,
000,
Including the late legacies,
Was all that remained for his widow and daughters.
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known,
And to him Mr Dashwood recommended the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.
Mr John Dashwood was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at such a time,
And he promised to do everything in his power to make them comfortable.
He was not an ill-disposed young man,
And was,
In general,
Well-respected.
Had he married a more amiable woman,
He might have been made still more respectable than he was.
But Mrs John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself,
More narrow-minded and selfish.
When he gave his promise to his father,
He meditated with himself,
To increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of £1,
000 apiece.
This prospect of £4,
000 a year,
In addition to his own present income,
Besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune,
Warmed his heart and made him feel capable of generosity he could spare so consistently.
Considerable as some with a little inconvenience.
No sooner was his father's fuel over than Mrs John Dashwood arrived with her child in their attendance.
No one could dispute her right to come.
The house was her husband's from the moment of his father's decease.
But the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater,
And to a woman in Mrs Dashwood's situation must have been highly unpleasing.
Mrs John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband's family,
But she had had no opportunity till the present of showing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it.
So acutely did Mrs Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour,
And so earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it,
That on the arrival of the latter she would have quitted the house forever had not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the propriety of going.
And her own tender love for all her three children determined her afterwards to stay and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.
Eleanor,
This eldest daughter,
Possessed a strength of understanding and coolness of judgement which qualified her,
Though only nineteen,
To be the counsellor of her mother.
Her disposition was affectionate and her feelings were strong,
But she knew how to govern them.
It was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
Marianne was sensible and clever,
But eager in everything.
Her sorrows,
Her joys,
Could have no moderation.
She was generous,
Amiable,
Interesting.
She was everything but prudent.
Eleanor saw with concern the excess of her sister's sensibility,
But by Mrs Dashwood it was valued and cherished.
They encouraged each other now in the violence of their affliction.
They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow,
Seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it,
And resolved against ever admitting consolation in future.
Eleanor,
Too,
Was deeply afflicted,
But still she could struggle.
She could exert herself.
She could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival and treat her with proper attention,
And could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion and encourage her to similar forbearance.
Margaret,
The other sister,
Was a good-humoured,
Well-disposed girl,
But as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance without having much of her sense,
She did not,
At thirteen,
Bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
Chapter Two Mrs John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland,
And her mother and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors.
As such,
However,
They were treated by her with quiet civility,
And by her husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody beyond himself,
His wife,
And their child.
He really pressed them,
With some earnestness,
To consider Norland as their home,
And as no plan appeared so eligible to Mrs Dashwood as remaining there till she could accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood,
His invitation was accepted.
Mrs John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do for his sisters.
To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree,
And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods,
Who were related to him only by half-blood,
Have on his generosity at so large an amount?
It was my father's last request to me,
Replied her husband,
That I should assist his widow and daughters.
He did not know what he was talking of,
I dare say.
Had he been in his right senses,
He could not have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your fortune from your own child.
He did not stipulate for any particular sum my dear Fanny,
He only requested me in general terms to assist them.
Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to myself.
He could hardly suppose I should neglect them,
But as he required the promise,
I could not do less than give it.
Something must be done for them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home.
Well then,
Let something be done for them,
But that something need not be three thousand pounds.
Consider,
She added,
That when the money is once parted with,
It can never return.
Your sisters will marry and she'll be gone forever,
If indeed it could ever be restored to our poor little boy.
Why,
To be sure,
Said her husband very gravely,
The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum was parted with.
If he should have a numerous family,
For instance,
It would be a very convenient addition.
To be sure it would.
Perhaps then it would be better for all parties if the sum were diminished one half.
Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their fortunes.
Oh,
Beyond anything great,
What brother on earth would do half so much for his sisters,
Even if really his sisters?
I would not wish to do anything mean,
He replied.
No one at least can think I have not done enough for them,
Even themselves,
And they can hardly expect for more.
There is no knowing what they may expect,
Said the lady.
The question is,
What can you afford to do?
Certainly,
And I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds apiece.
As it is,
Without any addition of mine,
They will each have above three thousand pounds on their mother's death.
A very comfortable fortune for any young woman.
To be sure it is,
And indeed it strikes me they can want no addition at all.
They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst them.
They may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten thousand pounds.
That is very true,
And therefore,
I do not know whether upon the whole it would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she lives,
Rather than them.
A hundred a year will make them all perfectly comfortable.
His wife hesitated a little.
To be sure,
Said she,
It is better than parting with fifteen hundred pounds at once.
But then,
If Mrs Dashwood should live fifteen years,
We shall be completely taken in.
Fifteen years!
Her life cannot be worth half that purchase.
Certainly not.
But if you observe,
People always live forever when there's any annuity to be paid to them.
And she is very stout and healthy,
And hardly forty.
I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities,
For my mother was clogged with a payment of three to servants by my father's will,
And it's amazing how disagreeable she found it.
Twice every year these annuities were to be paid.
My mother was quite sick of it.
Her income was not her own,
She said,
With such perpetual claims on it.
It certainly is an unpleasant thing,
Replied Mr Dashwood,
To have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.
It takes away one's independence.
Undoubtedly,
And after all,
You'll have no thanks for it.
I believe you're right,
My love.
It will be better than there should be no annuity in this case.
Whatever I may give them,
Occasionally,
Will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance.
A present of fifty pounds now and then will prevent there ever being distress for money,
And will,
I think,
Be amply discharging my promise to my father.
To be sure,
It will.
Indeed,
To say the truth,
I'm convinced within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all.
The assistance he thought of,
I dare say,
Was only such as might be reasonably expected of you.
For instance,
Such as looking out for a comfortable house for them.
Helping them to move their things.
And sending them presents of fish and game and so forth whenever they're in season.
But do consider,
My dear Mr Dashwood,
How excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds,
Besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls,
Which brings them in fifty pounds a year apiece.
All together,
They will have five hundred a year amongst them.
Only conceive how comfortable they will be.
I'm sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it.
And as to your giving them more,
It's quite absurd to think of it.
Upon my word,
Said Mr Dashwood,
I believe you are perfectly right.
My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say.
When my mother moves into another house,
My services shall be readily given to her to accommodate her as far as I can.
Some little presents of furniture,
Too,
May be acceptable then.
Certainly,
Returned Mrs John Dashwood.
But however,
One thing must be considered.
When your father and mother moved to Norland,
Though the furniture of Stonehill was sold,
All the china,
Plate and linen were saved and is now left to your mother.
The house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it.
That is a material consideration undoubtedly.
And yet,
Some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here.
Yes,
And the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house.
But however so it is,
Your father thought only of them.
And I must say this,
That you owe no particular gratitude to him.
For we very well know that if he could,
He would have left almost everything in the world to them.
This argument was irresistible.
It gave to his attentions whatever of decision was wanting before.
And he finally resolved that it would be absolutely unnecessary,
If not highly indecorous,
To do more for the widow and children of his father than such kind of knavely acts as his own wife pointed out.
Chapter 18 Eleanor saw with great uneasiness the low spirits of her friend.
It was evident he was unhappy.
She wished it were equally evident he still distinguished her by the same affection,
Which once she had no doubt of inspiring.
But the reservedness of his manner towards her contradicted one moment what a more animated look had intimated the preceding one.
He joined her and Marianne in the breakfast room the next morning before the others were down.
And Marianne,
Who was always eager to promote their happiness as far as she could,
Soon left them to themselves.
But before she was halfway upstairs she heard the parlour door open and turning around was astonished to see Edward himself come out.
I am going into the village to see my horses,
Said he.
I shall be back again presently.
Edward returned to them with fresh admiration of the surrounding country.
In his walk to the village he had seen many parts of the valley to advantage.
This was a subject which ensured Marianne's attention and she was beginning to describe her own admiration of these scenes when Edward interrupted her by saying You must not inquire too far,
Marianne.
Remember,
I have no knowledge in the picturesque and I shall offend you by my ignorance and want of taste if we come to particulars.
You must be satisfied with such admiration I can honestly give.
I call it a very fine country.
The hills are steep,
The woods seem full of fine timber and the valley looks comfortable and snug.
I can easily believe it to be full of rocks and promontories,
Grey moss and brush wood but these are all lost on me.
I know nothing of the picturesque.
I'm afraid it's all but too true,
Said Marianne,
But why should you boast of it?
I suspect,
Said Eleanor,
That Edward believes many people pretend to more admiration of the beauties of nature than they really feel and is disgusted with such pretensions so he affects greater indifference and less discrimination in viewing them himself than he possesses.
It is very true,
Said Marianne,
That admiration of landscape scenery has become a mere jargon.
Sometimes I've kept my feelings to myself because I could find no language to describe them in but what was worn and hackneyed out of all sense and meaning.
I am convinced,
Said Edward,
That you really feel all the delight in a fine prospect which you profess to feel.
I like a fine prospect but not on picturesque principles.
I do not like crooked,
Twisted,
Blasted trees.
I admire them much more if they're tall,
Straight and flourishing.
I do not like ruined,
Tattered cottages and a troop of tidy,
Happy villagers please me better than the finest bandit in the world.
The subject was continued no further and Marianne remained thoughtfully silent until a new object suddenly engaged her attention.
She was sitting by Edward and in taking his tea from Mrs Dashwood his hand passed so directly before her as to make a ring with a plait of hair in the centre very conspicuous on one of his fingers.
I never saw you wear a ring before,
Edward she cried.
Is that Fanny's hair?
He coloured very deeply and giving a momentary glance at Eleanor replied.
Yes,
It is my sister's hair.
The setting always casts a different shade on it,
You know.
Eleanor had met his eye and looked conscious likewise.
That the hair was her own she instantaneously felt as well satisfied as Marianne.
The only difference in their conclusions was that what Marianne considered as a free gift from her sister Eleanor was conscious must have been procured by some theft or contrivance unknown to herself.
She was not in a humour,
However to regard it as an affront and affected to take no notice of what passed by instantly talking of something else.
Edward was particularly grave the whole morning.
Marianne severely censured herself for what she had said but her own forgiveness might have been more speedy had she known how little offence it had given her sister.
Before the middle of the day they were visited by Sir John and Mrs Jennings who came to take a survey of the guest.
With the assistance of his mother-in-law Sir John was not long in discovering the name of Ferris began with an F and this prepared a future mile of railway against the devoted Eleanor which nothing but the newness of their acquaintance with Edward could have prevented from being immediately sprung.
You must drink tea with us tonight said Sir John for we shall be quite alone and tomorrow you must absolutely dine with us for we shall be a large party.
Mrs Jennings enforced the necessity and who knows but you may raise a dance said she and that will tempt you Miss Marianne.
A dance?
Cried Marianne.
Impossible!
Who is to dance?
Who?
Why yourselves and the Caries and Whittakers to be sure.
What?
You thought nobody could dance because a certain person that shall remain nameless is gone?
I wish with all my soul that Willoughby were amongst us again cried Sir John.
This and Marianne's blushing gave new suspicions to Edward.
And who is Willoughby?
Said he in a low voice to Miss Dashwood by whom he was sitting.
She gave him a brief reply.
Edward saw enough to comprehend not only the meaning of others but such of Marianne's expressions as had puzzled him before and when their visitors left he went immediately round to her and said in a whisper I have been guessing.
Shall I tell you my guess?
Certainly.
Well then I guess that Mr Willoughby hunts.
Marianne was surprised and confused yet she could not help smiling at the quiet archness of his manner and after a moment's silence she said Oh Edward,
How can you?
But the time will come I hope.
I'm sure you will like him.
I do not doubt it replied he.
Chapter 19 Edward remained a week at the cottage.
He was earnestly pressed by Mrs Dashwood to stay longer but he seemed resolved to be gone when his enjoyment among his friends was at the height.
His spirits during the last two or three days were greatly improved.
He grew more and more partial to the house and environs never spoke of going away without a sigh but still go he must.
He valued their kindness beyond anything and his greatest happiness was in being with them yet he must leave them at the end of the week in spite of their wishes and his own and without any restraint on his time.
Eleanor placed all that was astonishing in this way of acting to his mother's account and it was happy for her he had a mother whose character was so imperfectly known to her as to be the general excuse for everything strange on the part of her son.
His want of spirits of openness and of consistency were most usually attributed to his want of independence and his better knowledge of Mrs Ferrer's disposition and designs.
The old well-established grievance of duty against will parent against child was the cause of all.
She would have been glad to know when these difficulties were to cease when Mrs Ferrer's would be reformed and her son had liberty to be happy but from such vain wishes Eleanor was forced to turn for comfort to the renewal of her confidence in Edward's affection.
I think Edward said Mrs Dashwood as they were at breakfast the last morning you would be a happier man if you had any profession to engage your time and give you an interest to your plans and actions.
Some inconvenience to your friends indeed might result from it you would not be able to give them so much of your time but you would know where to go when you left them.
I do assure you he replied I have long thought on this point as you think now it has been and probably will always be a heavy misfortune to me I have had no necessary business to engage no profession to give me employment or afford me anything like independence I always preferred the church as I still do but that was not smart enough for my family.
They recommended the army that was a great deal too smart for me the law was allowed to be genteel enough but I had no inclination for the law even in the less of true study of it with which my family approved I was therefore entered at Oxford and have been properly idle ever since the consequence of which I suppose will be said Mrs Dashwood that your sons will be brought up to as many pursuits employments professions and trades as Columella's they will be brought up said he in a serious accent to be as unlike myself as it is possible come come Edward you are in a melancholy humour and fancy that anyone unlike yourself must be happy but remember the pain of parting will be felt by everybody at times whatever be their education or state know your own happiness your mother will secure to you in time that independence you're so anxious for how much may not a few months do and I think replied Edward that I may defy many months to produce any good to me this desponding turn of mind gave additional pain to them all in the parting which shortly took place and left an uncomfortable impression on Eleanor's feelings especially which required some trouble and time to subdue but she did not adopt the methods so judiciously employed by Marianne on a similar occasion to augment and fix her sorrow by seeking silence solitude and idleness Eleanor sat down to her drawing table as soon as he was out of the house busily employed herself the whole day appearing to interest herself almost as much as ever in the general concerns of the family and if by this conduct she did not lessen her own grief it was at least prevented from unnecessary increase and her mother and sisters were spared much solicitude on her account without shutting herself off from her family or leaving the house and determined solitude to avoid them Eleanor found every day afforded her leisure enough to think of Edward and of Edward's behavior in every possible variety which the different state of her spirits at different times could produce with tenderness pity approbation censure and doubt her thoughts could not be chained elsewhere and the past and the future on a subject so interesting must force her attention and engross her memory her reflection and her fancy from a reverie of this kind as she sat at her drawing table she was roused one morning soon after Edward's leaving them by the arrival of company the closing of the little gate drew her eyes to the window and she saw a large party walking up to the door amongst them were Sir John and Lady Middleton and Mrs Jennings but there were two others a gentleman and lady who were quite unknown to her as soon as Sir John perceived her he left the rest of the party to the ceremony of knocking at the door and stepping across the turf obliged her to open the casement to speak to him well?
Said he we have brought you some strangers how do you like them?
Hush they will hear you never mind if they do it's only the palmers Charlotte is very pretty I can tell you you may see her if you look this way they were now joined by Mrs Jennings who came hallowing to the window how do you do my dear?
How does Mrs Dashwood do?
And where are your sisters?
What?
All alone?
You will be glad of a little company to sit with you I've brought my other son and daughter to see you I thought I heard a carriage last night while we were drinking our tea but it never entered my head it could be them I said to Sir John I do think I hear a carriage perhaps is Colonel Brandon come back again?
Eleanor was obliged to turn from her in the middle of her story to receive the rest of the party Mrs Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton and totally unlike her in every respect she was short and plump had a very pretty face and the finest expression of good humour in it that could possibly be she came in with a smile smiled all the time of her visits except when she laughed and smiled when she went away her husband was a grave looking young man of five or six and twenty he entered the room with a look of self -consequence slightly bowed to the ladies without speaking a word and after briefly surveying them in their apartments took up a newspaper from the table and continued to read as long as he stayed Mrs Palmer on the contrary was hardly seated before her admiration of the parlour and everything in it burst forth well what a delightful room this is I never saw anything so charming only look sister how delightful everything is how I should like a house for myself should you not Mr Palmer?
Mr Palmer made her no answer and did not even raise his eyes from the newspaper Mrs Jennings in the meantime called on as loud as she could and continued to recount of their surprise the evening before without ceasing till everything was told Mrs Palmer laughed heartily at the recollection of their astonishment and everybody agreed two or three times over that it had been quite an agreeable surprise you may believe how glad we all were to see them added Mrs Jennings nodding significantly and pointing to her daughter it was wrong in her situation I wanted her to stay home and rest this morning but she would come with us she longs so much to see you all Mrs Palmer laughed and said it would not do her any harm she expects to be confined in February continued Mrs Jennings here comes Marianne cried Sir John now Palmer you shall see a monstrous pretty girl he immediately went into the passage opened the front door and ushered her in himself Mr Palmer looked up upon her entering the room stared at her some minutes and then returned to his newspaper Mrs Palmer's eye was now caught by the drawings which hung around the room oh dear how beautiful these are do but look mama how sweet I could look at them forever and then sitting down again she very soon forgot there were any such things in the room when Lady Middleton rose to go away Mr Palmer rose also laid down the newspaper stretched himself and looked at them all round my love have you been asleep?
Said his wife laughing then he made his bow and departed with the rest Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next day at the park Mrs Dashwood absolutely refused on her own account but her daughters might do as they pleased they attempted likewise to excuse themselves the weather was uncertain and not likely to be good but Sir John would not be satisfied the carriage should be sent and they must come Lady Middleton too though she did not press their mother pressed them Mrs Jennings and Mrs Palmer joined their entreaties all seemed equally anxious to avoid a family party and the young ladies were obliged to yield why should they ask us?
Said Marianne as soon as they were gone the rent of this cottage is said to be low but we have it on very hard terms if we are to dine at the park whenever anyone is staying either with them or with us they mean no less to be civil and kind to us now by these frequent invitations than by those we received from them a few weeks ago the alteration is not in them if their parties are grown tedious and dull we must look for the change elsewhere Chapter 20 As the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing room of the park the next day at one door Mrs Palmer came running in at the other looking as good,
Humoured and merry as before I am so glad to see you said she for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might not come which be assured it will be a shocking thing as we go away tomorrow I am so sorry we cannot stay longer however we shall meet again in town very soon I hope they were obliged to put an end to such an expectation not go to town?
Cried Mrs Palmer with a laugh I shall be quite disappointed if you do not I could get the nicest house in the world for you next door to ours in Hanover Square they thanked her but were obliged to resist all her entreaties oh my love cried Mrs Palmer to her husband who had just entered the room you must help me persuade the Miss Dashwoods to go to town this winter her love made no answer and after slightly bowing to the ladies began complaining of the weather how horrid this all is said he such weather makes everything and everybody disgusting dullness is as much produced within doors as without by rain what the devil does Sir John mean by not having a billiard room in his house?
The rest of the company soon dropped in I am afraid Miss Marianne said Sir John you have not been able to take your usual walk to Allingham today Marianne looked very grave and said nothing oh don't be so sly before us said Mrs Palmer for we know all about it I assure you and I admire your taste very much for I think he is extremely handsome we do not live a great way from him in the country you know I never was at his house but they say it's a pretty sweet place as vile a spot as I ever saw in my life said Mr Palmer Marianne remained perfectly silent though her countenance betrayed her interest in what was said is it very ugly?
Continued Mrs Palmer then it must be some other place that's so pretty I suppose when they were seated in the dining room Sir John observed with regret that they were only eight all together my dear he said to his lady why did you not ask the Gilbers to come to us today?
Did I not tell you Sir John when you spoke to me about it before that it could not be done?
They dined with us last night you and I Sir John said Mrs Jennings should not stand upon such ceremony then you will be very ill-bred cried Mr Palmer my love you contradict everybody said his wife with her usual laugh do you know you're quite rude?
I did not know I contradicted anybody in calling your mother ill-bred aye you might abuse me as you please said the good-natured old lady you have taken Charlotte off my hands and cannot give her back again Charlotte laughed heartily to think her husband could not get rid of her and exultingly said she did not care how cross he was to her as they must live together the studied indifference insolence and discontent of her husband gave her no pain and when he scolded or abused her she was highly diverted Mr Palmer is so droll said she in a whisper to Eleanor he's always out of humour Eleanor was not inclined after little observation to give him credit for being so genuinely and unaffectedly ill-natured or ill-bred as he wished to appear his temper might perhaps be a little soured by finding that through some unaccountable bias in favour of beauty he was the husband of a very silly woman but she knew that this kind of blunder was too common for any sensible man to be lastingly hurt by it it was rather a wish of distinction she believed which produced his contemptuous treatment of every body and his general abuse of everything before him it was the desire of appearing superior to other people oh my dear Miss Dashwood said Mrs Palmer soon afterwards will you come and spend some time at Cleveland this Christmas?
Now pray do and come while the Westons are with us my love applying to her husband don't you long to have the Miss Dashwoods come to Cleveland?
They both eagerly and resolutely declined her invitation but indeed you must and shall come you cannot think what a sweet place Cleveland is and we're so gay now but Mr Palmer's always going about the country canvassing against the election but poor fellow it's very fatiguing to him for he's forced to make everybody like him Eleanor could hardly keep her countenance as she ascended to the hardship of such an obligation how charming it will be said Charlotte when he's in Parliament won't it?
But do you know he says he'll never frank for me he declares he won't don't you Mr Palmer?
Mr Palmer took no notice of her he cannot bear writing you know she continued he says it's quite shocking no said he I never said anything so irrational don't palm all your abuses of language upon me there now you see how droll he is sometimes he won't speak to me for half a day altogether and then he comes out with something so droll about anything in the world she surprised Eleanor very much as they returned into the drawing room by asking her whether she did not like Mr Palmer excessively certainly said Eleanor he seems very agreeable well I'm so glad you do Mr Palmer's excessively pleased with you and your sisters I can tell you and you can't think how disappointed he will be if you don't come to Cleveland Eleanor was again obliged to decline her invitation and by changing the subject put a stop to her entreaties she thought it probable that as they lived in the same county Mrs Palmer might be able to give some more particular account of Willoughby's general character and could be gathered from the Middleton's partial acquaintance with him she began by inquiring if they saw much of Mr Willoughby at Cleveland and whether they were intimately acquainted with him oh dear yes I know him extremely well replied Mrs Palmer not that I ever spoke to him indeed but I have seen him forever in town Ramar saw him here once before but I was with my uncle at Weymouth however I dare say we should have seen a great deal of him in Somersetshire if it had not happened very unluckily that we should never have been in the country together I know why you inquire about him very well your sister is to marry him upon my word replied Eleanor you know much more of the matter than I do if you have any reason to expect such a match don't pretend to deny it because you know it's what everybody talks of I assure you I heard of it in my way through town my dear Mrs Palmer upon my honour I did I met Colonel Brandon Monday morning at Bond Street and he told me of it directly Colonel Brandon tell you of it?
Surely you must be mistaken to give such intelligence to a person who could not be interested in it even if it were true is not what I should expect Colonel Brandon to do but I do assure you it was so when we met him he began talking of my brother and sister and one thing in another and I said to him so Colonel there is a new family come to Barton Cottage I hear and Mama sends me word they're very pretty and that one of them is going to be married to Mr Willoughby of Coombe Magna is it true pray?
And what did the Colonel say?
Oh he did not say very much but he looked as if he knew it to be true Mr Brandon was very well I hope oh yes quite well and so full of your praises he did nothing but say fine things of you I am flattered by his commendation said Eleanor he seems an excellent man and I think him uncommonly pleasing so do I he's such a charming man that it's quite a pity he should be so grave and so dull Mama said he was in love with your sister too is Mr Willoughby much known in your part of Somersetshire?
Said Eleanor oh yes extremely well that is I do not believe many people are acquainted with him because Coombe Magna is so far off but they all think him extremely agreeable I assure you nobody's more liked than Mr Willoughby wherever he goes and so you may tell your sister Mrs Palmer's information respecting Willoughby was not very material but any testimony in his favour however small was pleasing to her I'm so glad we got acquainted at last continued Charlotte and now I hope we shall always be great friends and I'm so glad your sister's going to be well married I hope you will be a great deal at Coombe Magna you have been long acquainted with Colonel Brandon have you not?
Said Eleanor yes a great while ever since my sister married me he was a particular friend of Sir John's I believe she added in a low voice he would have been very glad to have had me if he could but Mama did not think the match good enough for me otherwise Sir John would have mentioned it to the Colonel and we should have been married immediately did not Colonel Brandon know of Sir John's proposal to your mother before it was made?
Had he never owned his affection to yourself?
Oh no but if Mama had not objected to it I dare say he would have liked it of all things however I'm much happier as I am Mr Palmer is just the type of man that I like chapter 21 the Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain each other but this did not last long Eleanor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head before Sir John and Mrs Jennings active zeal in the cause of society procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe in a morning's excursion to Exeter they had met with two young ladies who Mrs Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be her relations and this was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to the park their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before such an invitation and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm on the return of Sir John by hearing that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life and of whose elegance,
Whose tolerable gentility even,
She could have no proof as it was impossible however now to prevent their coming Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it the young ladies arrived their appearance was by no means ungentile or unfashionable their dress was very smart,
Their manners very civil they were delighted with the house and in raptures with the furniture and they happened to be so dotingly fond of children that Lady Middleton's good opinion was engaged in their favour before they had been an hour at the park she declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed which for her ladyship was enthusiastic admiration Sir John's confidence in his own judgment rose with his animated praise and he set off directly for the cottage to tell the Miss Dashwoods of the Miss Steele's arrival and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls in the world Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the park directly and look at his guests it was painful to him to keep a third cousin to himself Do come now,
Said he,
You can't think how you will like them Lucy is monstrous pretty and so good-humoured and agreeable and they both long to see you of all things for they've heard at Exeter you're the most beautiful creatures in the world How can you be so cross as not to come?
Why,
They're your cousins you know,
After a fashion You are my cousins and they are my wives so you must be related But Sir John could not prevail He could only obtain a promise of their calling it to the park within a day or two then left them in amazement at their indifference to walk home and boast anew of their attractions to the Miss Steele's When their promised visit to the park and consequent introduction to these young ladies took place The Miss Dashwood's found in the appearance of the eldest who was nearly 30 with a very plain and not a sensible face nothing to admire but in the other who was not more than two or three and twenty they acknowledged considerable beauty Her features were pretty and she had a sharp quick eye and a smartness of air which gave distinction to her person Their manners were particularly civil and Eleanor saw with what constant and judicious attentions they were making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton With her children they were in continual raptures extolling their beauty,
Courting their notice and humouring all their whims and such of their time as could be spared from the inopportunate demands This politeness made on it was spent in admiration of whatever her ladyship was doing if she happened to be doing anything Lady Middleton saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousin submitted She saw their sashes untied their hair pulled about their ears their work bags searched and their knives and scissors stolen away and felt no doubt of it being a reciprocal enjoyment John is in such spirits today said she on his taking Miss Steele's pocket handkerchief and throwing it out of the window He is full of monkey tricks And here is my sweet little Anna Maria she added tenderly caressing a little girl of three years old who had not made a noise for the last two minutes She's always so gentle and quiet never was there such a quiet little thing But unfortunately in bestowing these embraces a pin in her ladyship's headdress slightly scratching the child's neck produced from this pattern of gentleness such violent screams and could hardly be outdone by any creature professedly noisy She was seated in her mother's lap covered with kisses her wound bathed with lavender water by one of the Miss Steele's who was on her knees to attend to her and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by the other She still screamed and sobbed lustily till Lady Middleton luckily remembering a scene of similar distress last week,
Some apricot marmalade had been successfully applied for a bruised temple.
So the same remedy was eagerly proposed for this unfortunate scratch.
And a slight intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it,
Gave them reason to hope it would not be rejected.
Then she was carried out of the room,
In her mother's arms,
In quest of this medicine.
Poor little creature,
Said Miss Steele as soon as they were gone.
It might have been a very sad accident.
Yet I hardly know how,
Cried Marianne,
Unless it had been under totally different circumstances.
But this is the usual way of heightening alarm,
When there is nothing to be alarmed of in reality.
What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is,
Said Lucy Steele.
Marianne was silent.
It was impossible for her to say what she did not feel,
However trivial the occasion.
And upon Eleanor,
Therefore,
The whole task of telling lies,
When politeness required,
It always fell.
She did her best,
When thus called on,
By speaking of Lady Middleton with more warmth than she felt,
Though with far less than Miss Lucy.
And Sir John too,
Cried the elder sister.
What a charming man he is,
And what a charming little family they have.
I never saw such fine children in my life.
I declare I quite dote upon them already.
I should guess so,
Said Eleanor,
With a smile,
From what I have witnessed this morning.
I have a notion,
Said Lucy,
You think the little Middleton is rather too much indulged.
For my part,
I love to see children full of life and spirits.
I cannot bear them if they are tame and quiet.
I confess,
Replied Eleanor,
That while I am at Barton Park,
I never think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence.
A short pause succeeded this speech,
Which was first broken by Miss Steele,
Who now said rather abruptly,
And how do you like Devonshire,
Miss Dashwood?
I suppose you were very sorry to leave Sussex.
In some surprise at the familiarity of this question,
Eleanor replied that she was.
Norland is a prodigious,
Beautiful place,
Is it not?
Added Miss Steele.
I think everyone must admire it,
Replied Eleanor,
Whoever saw the place.
And had you a great many spart bow there,
I suppose you'd not so many in this part of the world.
For my part,
I think they're a vast addition always.
But why should you think,
Said Lucy,
Looking ashamed of her sister,
That there are not as many genteel young men in Devonshire as Sussex?
Nay,
My dear,
I'm sure I don't pretend to say there aren't.
I was only afraid the Miss Dashwoods might find it dull at Barton if they had not so many as they used to have.
But perhaps you young ladies may not care about the bow.
For my part,
I think they're vastly agreeable,
Provided they dress smart and behave civil.
I suppose your brother was quite a bow,
Miss Dashwood,
Before he married,
As he was so rich.
Upon my word,
Replied Eleanor,
I cannot tell you,
For I do not perfectly comprehend the meaning of the word.
But this I can say,
That if he ever was a bow before he married,
He is one still,
For there is not the smallest alteration in him.
Oh dear,
One never thinks of married men's being bow.
They have something else to do.
Lord Han,
Cried her sister,
You can talk of nothing but bow.
You will make the Miss Dashwoods believe you think of nothing else.
This specimen of the Miss Steeles was enough.
The vogue of freedom and folly of the eldest left her no recommendation.
And as Eleanor was not blinded by the beauty or the shrewd look of the youngest,
To her want of real elegance and artlessness,
She left the house without any wish of knowing them better.
Not so the Miss Steeles.
They came from Exeter,
Well provided with admiration for the use of Sir John Middleton,
His family and all his relations.
And no niggardly proportion was now dealt out to his fair cousins,
Whom they declared to be the most beautiful,
Elegant,
Accomplished and agreeable girls they had ever beheld,
And with whom they were particularly anxious to be better acquainted.
Eleanor soon found was they inevitable lot,
For Sir John was entirely on the side of the Miss Steeles.
Their party would be too strong for opposition,
And that kind of intimacy must be submitted to,
Which consists of sitting an hour or two together in the same room almost every day.
To do Sir John justice,
He did everything in his power to promote their own reserve.
By making the Miss Steeles acquainted with whatever he knew,
Or supposed of his cousin's situations,
In the most delicate particulars.
And Eleanor had not seen them more than twice,
Before the eldest of them wished her joy on her sisters having been so lucky as to make a conquest of a very smart beau since she came to Barton.
It will be a fine thing to have her married so young,
To be sure,
Said she,
And I hope you may have as good luck yourself soon.
Eleanor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward,
Than he had been with respect to Marianne.
Indeed it was rather his favourite joke of the two,
As being somewhat newer and more conjectural.
And since Edward's visit,
They had never dined together without his drinking to her best affections,
With so much significance and so many nods and winks,
As to excite general attention.
The letter F had been likewise invariably brought forward,
And found productive of such countless jokes,
That its character as the wittiest letter in the alphabet had been long established with Eleanor.
The misdeals,
As she expected,
Had now all the benefits of these jokes,
And in the eldest of them they raised a curiosity to know the name of the gentleman alluded to.
But Sir John did not sport long with a curiosity,
Which he delighted to raise,
For he had at least as much pleasure in telling the name,
As Miss Steele had in hearing it.
His name is Ferrars,
Said he,
In a very audible whisper,
But pray do not tell it,
For it is a great secret.
Ferrars,
Reported Miss Steele,
What,
Your sister-in-law's brother,
Miss Dashwood?
A very agreeable young man,
To be sure.
I know him very well.
How can you say so,
Anne?
Cried Lucy.
Though we've seen him once or twice at my uncle's,
It's rather too much to pretend to know him very well.
Eleanor heard all this with attention and surprise.
And who was this uncle?
Where did he live?
How came they acquainted?
The manner in which Miss Steele had spoken of Edward increased her curiosity,
For it struck her as being rather ill-natured,
And suggested the suspicion of that lady's knowing or fancying herself to know,
Something to his disadvantage.
