Sense and Sensibility

CHAPTER 33

After some opposition, Marianne yielded to her sister's entreaties, andconsented to go out with her and Mrs. Jennings one morning for half anhour. She expressly conditioned, however, for paying no visits, andwould do no more than accompany them to Gray's in Sackville Street,where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for the exchange of a fewold-fashioned jewels of her mother.

When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that there wasa lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to call; and asshe had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that while her youngfriends transacted their's, she should pay her visit and return forthem.

On ascending the stairs, the Miss Dashwoods found so many people beforethem in the room, that there was not a person at liberty to tend totheir orders; and they were obliged to wait. All that could be donewas, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to promise thequickest succession; one gentleman only was standing there, and it isprobable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting his politeness toa quicker despatch. But the correctness of his eye, and the delicacyof his taste, proved to be beyond his politeness. He was giving ordersfor a toothpick-case for himself, and till its size, shape, andornaments were determined, all of which, after examining and debatingfor a quarter of an hour over every toothpick-case in the shop, werefinally arranged by his own inventive fancy, he had no leisure tobestow any other attention on the two ladies, than what was comprisedin three or four very broad stares; a kind of notice which served toimprint on Elinor the remembrance of a person and face, of strong,natural, sterling insignificance, though adorned in the first style offashion.

Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt andresentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and onthe puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors ofthe different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, by remainingunconscious of it all; for she was as well able to collect her thoughtswithin herself, and be as ignorant of what was passing around her, inMr. Gray'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 lastday on which his existence could be continued without the possession ofthe toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, andbestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one asseemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with ahappy air of real conceit and affected indifference.

Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, was on the pointof concluding it, when another gentleman presented himself at her side.She turned her eyes towards his face, and found him with some surpriseto be her brother.

Their affection and pleasure in meeting was just enough to make a verycreditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop. John Dashwood was really farfrom being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave themsatisfaction; and his inquiries after their mother were respectful andattentive.

Elinor found that he and Fanny had been in town two days.

”I wished very much to call upon you yesterday,” said he, ”but it wasimpossible, for we were obliged to take Harry to see the wild beasts atExeter Exchange; and we spent the rest of the day with Mrs. Ferrars.Harry was vastly pleased. THIS morning I had fully intended to call onyou, if I could possibly find a spare half hour, but one has always somuch to do on first coming to town. I am come here to bespeak Fanny aseal. But tomorrow I think I shall certainly be able to call inBerkeley Street, and be introduced to your friend Mrs. Jennings. Iunderstand she is a woman of very good fortune. And the Middletonstoo, you must introduce me to THEM. As my mother-in-law's relations, Ishall be happy to show them every respect. They are excellentneighbours to you in the country, I understand.”

”Excellent indeed. Their attention to our comfort, their friendlinessin every particular, is more than I can express.”

”I am extremely glad to hear it, upon my word; extremely glad indeed.But so it ought to be; they are people of large fortune, they arerelated to you, and every civility and accommodation that can serve tomake your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected. And so youare most comfortably settled in your little cottage and want fornothing! Edward brought us a most charming account of the place: themost complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was, and you allseemed to enjoy it beyond any thing. It was a great satisfaction to usto hear it, I assure you.”

Elinor did feel a little ashamed of her brother; and was not sorry tobe spared the necessity of answering him, by the arrival of Mrs.Jennings's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited forthem at the door.

Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs. Jenningsat the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of being able tocall on them the next day, took leave.

His visit was duly paid. He came with a pretence at an apology fromtheir sister-in-law, for not coming too; ”but she was so much engagedwith her mother, that really she had no leisure for going any where.”Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she should not standupon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or something like it, and sheshould certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood very soon, and bring hersisters to see her. His manners to THEM, though calm, were perfectlykind; to Mrs. Jennings, most attentively civil; and on ColonelBrandon's coming in soon after himself, he eyed him with a curiositywhich seemed to say, that he only wanted to know him to be rich, to beequally civil to HIM.

After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with himto Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady Middleton.The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented. As soon asthey were out of the house, his enquiries began.

”Who is Colonel Brandon? Is he a man of fortune?”

”Yes; he has very good property in Dorsetshire.”

”I am glad of it. He seems a most gentlemanlike man; and I think,Elinor, I may congratulate you on the prospect of a very respectableestablishment in life.”

”Me, brother! what do you mean?”

”He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it. Whatis the amount of his fortune?”

”I believe about two thousand a year.”

”Two thousand a-year;” and then working himself up to a pitch ofenthusiastic generosity, he added, ”Elinor, I wish with all my heart itwere TWICE as much, for your sake.”

”Indeed I believe you,” replied Elinor; ”but I am very sure thatColonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying ME.”

”You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. A very littletrouble on your side secures him. Perhaps just at present he may beundecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang back; hisfriends may all advise him against it. But some of those littleattentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give will fixhim, in spite of himself. And there can be no reason why you shouldnot try for him. It is not to be supposed that any prior attachment onyour side--in short, you know as to an attachment of that kind, it isquite out of the question, the objections are insurmountable--you havetoo much sense not to see all that. Colonel Brandon must be the man;and no civility shall be wanting on my part to make him pleased withyou and your family. It is a match that must give universalsatisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing that”--lowering hisvoice to an important whisper--”will be exceedingly welcome to ALLPARTIES.” Recollecting himself, however, he added, ”That is, I mean tosay--your friends are all truly anxious to see you well settled; Fannyparticularly, for she has your interest very much at heart, I assureyou. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars, a very good-natured woman, I amsure it would give her great pleasure; she said as much the other day.”

Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.

”It would be something remarkable, now,” he continued, ”somethingdroll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister settling at thesame time. And yet it is not very unlikely.”

”Is Mr. Edward Ferrars,” said Elinor, with resolution, ”going to bemarried?”

”It is not actually settled, but there is such a thing in agitation.He has a most excellent mother. Mrs. Ferrars, with the utmostliberality, will come forward, and settle on him a thousand a year, ifthe match takes place. The lady is the Hon. Miss Morton, only daughterof the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds. A very desirableconnection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its taking place intime. A thousand a-year is a great deal for a mother to give away, tomake over for ever; but Mrs. Ferrars has a noble spirit. To give youanother instance of her liberality:--The other day, as soon as we cameto town, aware that money could not be very plenty with us just now,she put bank-notes into Fanny's hands to the amount of two hundredpounds. And extremely acceptable it is, for we must live at a greatexpense while we are 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. I do not mean tocomplain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I hope willin time be better. The enclosure of Norland Common, now carrying on,is a most serious drain. And then I have made a little purchase withinthis half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember the place, whereold Gibson used to live. The land was so very desirable for me inevery respect, so immediately adjoining my own property, that I felt itmy duty to buy it. I could not have answered it to my conscience tolet it fall into any other hands. 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 that. I might have sold it again, the next day, formore than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase-money, I might havebeen very unfortunate indeed; for the stocks were at that time so low,that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum in my banker'shands, I must have sold out to very great loss.”

Elinor could only smile.

”Other great and inevitable expenses too we have had on first coming toNorland. Our respected father, as you well know, bequeathed all theStanhill effects that remained at Norland (and very valuable they were)to your mother. Far be it from me to repine at his doing so; he had anundoubted right to dispose of his own property as he chose, but, inconsequence of it, we have been obliged to make large purchases oflinen, china, &c. to supply the place of what was taken away. You mayguess, after all these expenses, how very far we must be from beingrich, and how acceptable Mrs. Ferrars's kindness is.”

”Certainly,” said Elinor; ”and assisted by her liberality, I hope youmay yet live to be in easy circumstances.”

”Another year or two may do much towards it,” he gravely replied; ”buthowever there is still a great deal to be done. There is not a stonelaid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but the plan of theflower-garden marked out.”

”Where is the green-house to be?”

”Upon the knoll behind the house. The old walnut trees are all comedown to make room for it. It will be a very fine object from manyparts of the park, and the flower-garden will slope down just beforeit, and be exceedingly pretty. We have cleared away all the old thornsthat grew in patches over the brow.”

Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was verythankful that Marianne was not present, to share the provocation.

Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away thenecessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters, in hisnext visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn, and he beganto congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs. Jennings.

”She seems a most valuable woman indeed--Her house, her style ofliving, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an acquaintancethat has not only been of great use to you hitherto, but in the end mayprove materially advantageous.--Her inviting you to town is certainly avast thing in your favour; and indeed, it speaks altogether so great aregard for you, that in all probability when she dies you will not beforgotten.-- She must have a great deal to leave.”

”Nothing at all, I should rather suppose; for she has only herjointure, which will descend to her children.”

”But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income. Fewpeople of common prudence will do THAT; and whatever she saves, shewill be able to dispose of.”

”And do you not think it more likely that she should leave it to herdaughters, than to us?”

”Her daughters are both exceedingly well married, and therefore Icannot perceive the necessity of her remembering them farther.Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, andtreating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim onher future consideration, which a conscientious woman would notdisregard. Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she canhardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it raises.”

”But she raises none in those most concerned. Indeed, brother, youranxiety for our welfare and prosperity carries you too far.”

”Why, to be sure,” said he, seeming to recollect himself, ”people havelittle, have very little in their power. But, my dear Elinor, what isthe matter with Marianne?-- she looks very unwell, has lost her colour,and is grown quite thin. Is she ill?”

”She is not well, she has had a nervous complaint on her for severalweeks.”

”I am sorry for that. At her time of life, any thing of an illnessdestroys the bloom for ever! Hers has been a very short one! She wasas handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw; and as likely toattract the man. There was something in her style of beauty, to pleasethem particularly. I remember Fanny used to say that she would marrysooner and better than you did; not but what she is exceedingly fond ofYOU, but so it happened to strike her. She will be mistaken, however.I question whether Marianne NOW, will marry a man worth more than fiveor six hundred a-year, at the utmost, and I am very much deceived ifYOU do not do better. Dorsetshire! I know very little of Dorsetshire;but, my dear Elinor, I shall be exceedingly glad to know more of it;and I think I can answer for your having Fanny and myself among theearliest and best pleased of your visitors.”

Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was nolikelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an expectationof too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he was reallyresolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and promoting themarriage by every possible attention. He had just compunction enoughfor having done nothing for his sisters himself, to be exceedinglyanxious that everybody else should do a great deal; and an offer fromColonel Brandon, or a legacy from Mrs. Jennings, was the easiest meansof atoning for his own neglect.

They were lucky enough to find Lady Middleton at home, and Sir Johncame in before their visit ended. Abundance of civilities passed onall sides. Sir John was ready to like anybody, and though Mr. Dashwooddid not seem to know much about horses, he soon set him down as a verygood-natured fellow: while Lady Middleton saw enough of fashion in hisappearance to think his acquaintance worth having; and Mr. Dashwoodwent away delighted with both.

”I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny,” said he, as hewalked back with his sister. ”Lady Middleton is really a most elegantwoman! Such a woman as I am sure Fanny will be glad to know. And Mrs.Jennings too, an exceedingly well-behaved woman, though not so elegantas her daughter. Your sister need not have any scruple even ofvisiting HER, which, to say the truth, has been a little the case, andvery naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was the widow of aman who had got all his money in a low way; and Fanny and Mrs. Ferrarswere both strongly prepossessed, that neither she nor her daughterswere such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with. But nowI can carry her a most satisfactory account of both.”