Sense & Sensibility - Chapters 1 & 2

For those of you who are into classic literature, this is my sleep interpretation of the first two chapters of Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility." This version also contains very relaxing, melodic music as a bed underneath my voice which trails off after the end of Chapter Two to help lull you into a peaceful and relaxing sleep. Thank you all for being so patient as I prepare new stories for your listening pleasure. I appreciate you all, and please keep listening. I hope you like it.

Transcript

Good evening.

My name is Bill Larson.

And tonight I'm going to be reading to you the novel Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

Editor's Note It is a great deal to earn for so little trouble,

Was Jane Austen's comment when she received 150 pounds for Sense and Sensibility,

The first of her novels to be published.

The story was written in 1797,

But 14 years elapsed before it was printed.

Its success was immediate and so emphatic that more was demanded of the author.

Pride and Prejudice,

Her earliest completed novel,

Which had been rejected and laid aside since 1797,

Was produced in 1813.

Mansfield Park in the next year,

And Emma in 1816.

All of them being issued anonymously.

Sense and Sensibility was an enlargement of an earlier story,

Eleanor and Marianne,

Written in the form of letters.

This style of fiction,

Dealing with simple country life,

With characters in their everyday garb and surroundings,

Appealed at once by its very simplicity and delightful freshness.

Jane Austen's position in literature was placed somewhat highly by her contemporary critics.

Sir Walter Scott wrote of her,

That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements,

Feelings,

And characters of ordinary life,

Which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with.

The big bow-wow I can do myself like anyone going.

But the exquisite touch,

Which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment is denied to me.

While Macaulay placed her nearest to Shakespeare in the Exhibition of Human Nature by means of dialogue.

Jane Austen was born at Steventon in 1775 and died at Winchester 1817.

Chapter 1 The family of Dashwood had been long settled in Sussex.

Their estate was large,

And 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 lived to a very advanced age,

And who for many years of his life had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister.

But her death,

Which happened ten years before his own,

Produced a great alteration in his home.

For to supply her loss,

He invited and received 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.

His attachment to them all increased.

The constant attention of Mr.

And Mrs.

Henry Dashwood to his wishes,

Which proceeded not merely from interest,

But from goodness of heart,

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,

Which happened soon afterward,

He added to his wealth.

To him,

Therefore,

The succession to the Norland estate was not so really important as to his sisters.

For their fortune,

Independent of what might arise to them from their fathers inheriting that property,

Could be but small.

Their mother had nothing,

And their father only seven thousand pounds in his own disposal,

For the rest of his first wife's fortune was also secured to her child,

And he had only a life interest in it.

The old gentleman died,

His will was read,

And like almost every other will,

Gave as much disappointment as pleasure.

He was neither so unjust nor so ungrateful as to leave his estate from his nephew.

But he left it to him on 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,

And who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate,

Or by any sale of its valuable woods.

The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child,

Who in occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland,

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,

An imperfect articulation,

An earnest desire of having his own way,

Many cunning tricks,

And a great deal of noise,

As to outweigh all the value of all the attention which,

For years,

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 a thousand pounds 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 almost immediate improvement.

But the fortune which had been so tardy in coming was his only one twelve-month.

He survived his uncle no longer,

And ten thousand pounds,

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,

With all the strength and urgency which illness could command,

The interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.

Mr.

John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family,

But he 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.

His father was rendered easy by such an assurance,

And Mr.

John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do for them.

He was not an ill-disposed young man,

Unless to be rather cold-hearted and rather selfish is to be ill-disposed.

But he was,

In general,

Well respected,

For he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of his ordinary duties.

Had he married a more amiable woman,

He might have been made still more respectable than he was.

He might even have been made amiable himself,

For he was very young when he married,

And very fond of his wife.

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 within himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds apiece.

He then really thought himself equal to it.

The prospect of four thousand a year,

In addition to his present income besides the remaining half of his own mother's fortune,

Warmed his heart and made him feel capable of generosity.

Yes,

He would give them three thousand pounds.

It would be liberal and handsome.

It would be enough to make them completely easy.

Three thousand pounds.

He could spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience.

He thought of it all day long,

And for many days successively,

And he did not repent.

No sooner was his father's funeral over than Mrs.

John Dashwood,

Without sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law,

Arrived with her child and 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,

With only common feelings,

Must have been highly unpleasing.

But in her mind there was a sense of honor so keen,

A generosity so romantic,

That any offense of the kind,

By whomsoever given or received,

Was to her a source of immovable disgust.

Mrs.

John Dashwood had never been a favorite with any of her husband's family.

But she had no opportunity,

Till the present,

Of shewing 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 behavior,

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.

But 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 whose advice was so effectual,

Possessed a strength of understanding,

And coolness of judgment,

Which qualified her,

Though only nineteen,

To be the counselor of her mother,

And enabled her frequently to counteract,

To the advantage of them all,

That eagerness of mind in Mrs.

Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence.

She had an excellent heart,

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's abilities were,

In many respects,

Quite equal to Eleanor's.

She 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.

The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.

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.

The agony of grief which overpowered them at first,

Was voluntarily renewed,

Was sought for,

Was created again and again.

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 consult with her brother,

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-humored,

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 neighborhood,

His invitation was accepted.

A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight was exactly what suited her mind.

In seasons of cheerfulness,

No temper could be more cheerful than hers,

Or possess,

In a greater degree,

That sanguine expectation of happiness,

Which is happiness itself.

But in sorrow,

She must be equally carried away by her fancy,

And as far beyond consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.

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.

She begged him to think again on the subject.

How could he answer it to himself to rob his child,

And his only child too,

Of so large a sum?

And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods,

Who were related to him only by half-blood,

Which she considered as no relationship at all,

Have on his generosity to so large an amount?

It was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the children of any man by different marriages.

And why was he to ruin himself and their poor little Harry by giving away all his money to his half-sisters?

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 thinking of,

I dare say.

One to one,

But he was light-headed at the time.

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 and make their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do.

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.

At least I thought so at the time.

The promise,

Therefore,

Was given and must be performed.

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 it will be gone forever,

If indeed it could ever be restored to our poor little boy.

Why,

To be sure,

Said her husband very gravely,

That would make a great difference.

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.

Thus 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,

And,

As it is,

Only half blood?

But you have such a generous spirit.

I would not wish to do anything mean,

He replied.

One had rather,

On such occasions,

Do too much than too little.

No one at least can think I have not done enough for them.

In themselves,

They can hardly expect more.

There is no knowing what they may expect,

Said the lady,

But we are not to think of their expectations.

The question is what you can 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 that they can want no addition at all.

They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst them.

If they marry,

They will be sure of doing well,

And if they do not,

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 for them.

Parting of the annuity kind,

I mean.

My sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself.

A hundred a year would make them all perfectly comfortable.

His wife hesitated a little,

However,

In giving her consent to his plan.

To be sure,

She said,

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,

My dear Fanny.

Her life cannot be worth half that purchase.

Probably not.

But if you observe,

People always live forever when there is any annuity to be paid them,

And she is very stout and healthy,

And hardly forty.

An annuity is a very serious business.

It comes over and over every year,

And there is no getting rid of it.

You are not aware of what you are doing.

I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities,

For my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old super-annuated servants by my father's will,

And it is amazing how disagreeable she found it.

Twice every year,

These annuities were to be paid,

And then there was the trouble of getting it to them,

And then one of them was said to have died,

And afterwards it turned out to be no such thing.

My mother was quite sick of it.

Her income was not her own,

She said,

With such perpetual claims on it.

And it was the more unkind in my father,

Because otherwise the money would have been entirely at my mother's disposal,

Without any restriction whatever.

It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities that I am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all the world.

It is certainly an unpleasant thing,

Replied Mr.

Dashwood,

To have those kind of yearly drains on one's income.

One's fortune,

As your mother justly says,

Is not one's own.

To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum on every rent day is by no means desirable.

It takes away one's independence.

Undoubtedly,

And,

After all,

You have no thanks for it.

They think themselves secure.

You do no more than what is expected,

And it raises no gratitude at all.

If I were you,

Whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely.

I would not bind myself to allow them anything yearly.

It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred,

Or even fifty pounds,

From our own expenses.

I believe you are right,

My love.

It will be better that there should be no annuity in the case.

Whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year.

It will certainly be much the best way.

A present of fifty pounds now and then will prevent their ever being distressed 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 am 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 small house for them,

Helping them to move their things,

And sending them presents of fish and game and so forth,

Whenever they are in season.

I'll lay my life that he meant nothing further.

Indeed,

It would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.

Do but 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,

And of course,

They will pay their mother for their board out of it.

Altogether they will have five hundred a year amongst them.

And what on earth can four women want for more than that?

They will live so cheap,

Their housekeeping will be nothing at all.

They will have no carriage,

No horses,

And hardly any servants.

They will keep no company and can have no expenses of any kind.

They conceive how comfortable they will be.

Five hundred a year.

I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it.

And as to your giving them more,

It is quite absurd to think of it.

They will be much more able to give you something.

On 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.

I clearly understand it now,

And I will strictly fulfill my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described.

When my mother removes into another house,

My services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can.

Some little present 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 Stanhill was sold,

All the china,

Plate,

And linen was saved and is now left to your mother.

Her house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it.

That is a material consideration,

Undoubtedly.

A valuable legacy,

Indeed.

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.

A great deal too handsome,

In my opinion,

For any place they can ever afford to live in.

But,

However,

So it is.

Your father thought only of them.

And I must say this,

That you owe no particular gratitude to him,

Nor attention to his wishes,

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 intentions 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 neighborly acts as his own wife pointed out.

Perhaps these relations in his mind,

Though,

Areern pea.

You

Reviews

Well read. Love Austen.

Golden voice.

Thoroughly enjoyed the story so pleasing to hear a clear and charming voice I could tell immediately that you are pationate about nourating. Thank you so looking forward to to the following chapters of Sence & Sencibility 🌹❤️

❤️ wonderful 🙏🏼

Like your voice

Love it! Thanks so much.

Wauw, quite the dilemma. Love it, nothing black and white but with lot of nuances.

☺️

Lovely voice and wonderful text. Perfect for bedtime.

This is just lovely and soothing. I've been listening for about a week but I've only just reached chapter 2. I'm really enjoying your choice.

Still got to get to the end of this. So soothing to be read to. Thanks 🙏🏼❤️

Thank you so much Bill, this was great as always! Fell asleep much before the end!

You have a great voice and this is another lovely addition to your sleep story series. I can't wait for more chapters😊 Thank you🙏🏼

Absolutely wonderful. Thank you for your voice and for bringing a classic piece of literature to life in a world sorely in need of sense and sensibility! Bravo!! 🙏✨🌻

Thank you!

Delightful! Can we have more chapters, please? ☺

Nicely read Bill, Thankyou

Always love the Classics Bill Larson post. Most of all the way he reads them. This one especially, with the old fashioned English, would lose me if it were read too fast.