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 Gray's
in Sackville Street, where Elinor was carrying on a negotiation for
the exchange of a few old-fashioned jewels of her mother.
When they stopped at the door, Mrs. Jennings recollected that
there was a lady at the other end of the street on whom she ought to
call; and as she had no business at Gray's, it was resolved, that
while her young friends transacted theirs, she should pay her visit,
and return for them.
On ascending the stairs, the Misses Dashwood found so many
people before them in the room, that there was not a person at liberty
to tend to their orders; and they were obliged to wait. All that could
be done, was, to sit down at that end of the counter which seemed to
promise the quickest succession; one gentleman only was standing
there, and it is probable that Elinor was not without hope of exciting
his politeness to a quicker despatch. But the correctness of his
eye, and the delicacy of his taste, proved to be beyond his
politeness. He was giving orders for a toothpick-case for himself; and
till its size, shape, and ornaments were determined, all of which,
after examining and debating for a quarter of an hour over every
toothpick-case in the shop, were finally arranged by his own inventive
fancy, he had no leisure to bestow any other attention on the two
ladies than what was comprised in three or four very broad stares; a
kind of notice which served to imprint on Elinor the remembrance of
a person and face of strong, natural, sterling insignificance,
though adorned in the first style of fashion.
Marianne was spared from the troublesome feelings of contempt
and resentment, on this impertinent examination of their features, and
on the puppyism of his manner in deciding on all the different horrors
of the different toothpick-cases presented to his inspection, 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
around her, in Mr. 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 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 Misses Dashwood, but such
a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off
with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.
Elinor lost no time in bringing her business forward, 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 was just enough to make
a very creditable appearance in Mr. Gray's shop. John Dashwood was
really far from being sorry to see his sisters again; it rather gave
them satisfaction; and his enquiries after their mother were
respectful and attentive.
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 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
Mrs. Ferrars. Harry was vastly pleased. This morning I had fully
intended to call on you, if I could possibly find a spare half hour,
but one has always so much to do on first coming to town. I am come
here to bespeak Fanny a seal. But to-morrow I think I shall
certainly be able to call in Berkeley Street, and be introduced to
your friend Mrs. Jennings. I understand she is a woman of very good
fortune. And the Middletons, too, you must introduce me to them. As my
mother-in-law's relations, I shall be happy to show them every
respect. They are excellent neighbours to you in the country, I understand."
"Excellent indeed. Their attention to our comfort, their
friendliness in 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 are related to you; and every civility and accommodation that can
serve to make your situation pleasant might be reasonably expected.
And so you are most comfortably settled in your little cottage, and
want for nothing! Edward brought us a most charming account of the
place: the most complete thing of its kind, he said, that ever was,
and you all seemed to enjoy it beyond any thing. It was a great
satisfaction to us to hear it, I assure you."
Elinor 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's servant, who came to tell her that his mistress waited
for them at the door.
Mr. Dashwood attended them down stairs, was introduced to Mrs.
Jennings at the door of her carriage, and repeating his hope of
being able to call on them the next day, took leave.
His visit was duly paid. He came with a pretence at an apology
from their sister-in-law, for not coming too; "but she was so much
engaged with her mother, that really she had no leisure for going
any where." Mrs. Jennings, however, assured him directly, that she
should not stand upon ceremony, for they were all cousins, or
something like it, and she should certainly wait on Mrs. John Dashwood
very soon, and bring her sisters to see her. His manners to them,
though calm, 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, that he only wanted
to know him to be rich, to be equally civil to him.
After staying with them half an hour, he asked Elinor to walk with
him to Conduit Street, and introduce him to Sir John and Lady
Middleton. The weather was remarkably fine, and she readily consented.
As soon as they 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
respectable establishment in life."
"Me, brother! What do you mean?"
"He likes you. I observed him narrowly, and am convinced of it.
What is the amount of his fortune?"
"I believe about two thousand a year."
"Two thousand a year!" and then working himself up to a pitch of
enthusiastic generosity, he added, "Elinor, I wish with all my heart
it were twice as much for your sake."
"Indeed I believe you," replied Elinor; "but I am very sure that
Colonel Brandon has not the smallest wish of marrying me."
"You are mistaken, Elinor; you are very much mistaken. A very
little trouble on your side secures him. Perhaps just at present he
may be undecided; the smallness of your fortune may make him hang
back; his friends may all advise him against it. But some of those
little attentions and encouragements which ladies can so easily give
will fix him, in spite of himself. And there can be no reason why
you should not try for him. It is not to be supposed that any prior
attachment on your side;- in short, you know, as to an attachment of
that kind, it 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; and no civility shall be wanting on my part
to make him pleased with you and your family. It is a match that
must give universal satisfaction. In short, it is a kind of thing
that," lowering his voice to an important whisper, "will be
exceedingly welcome to all parties." Recollecting himself, however, he
added, "That is, I mean to say- your friends are all truly anxious
to see you well settled; Fanny particularly, for she has your interest
very much at heart, I assure you. And her mother too, Mrs. Ferrars,
a very good-natured woman, I am sure 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,
"something droll, if Fanny should have a brother and I a sister
settling at the same time. And yet it is not very unlikely."
"Is Mr. Edward Ferrars," said Elinor, with resolution, "going tobe 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 Hon. Miss Morton, only
daughter of the late Lord Morton, with thirty thousand pounds. A
very desirable connection on both sides, and I have not a doubt of its
taking place in time. A thousand a year is a great deal for a mother
to give away, to make over for ever; 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, 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 hundred pounds. And extremely acceptable it is,
for we must live at a great expense 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
to complain, however; it is undoubtedly a comfortable one, and I
hope will in time be better. The enclosure of Norland Common, now
carrying on, is a most serious drain. And then I have made a little
purchase within this half year; East Kingham Farm, you must remember
the place, where old Gibson used to live. The land was so very
desirable for me in every respect, so immediately adjoining my own
property, that I felt it my duty to buy it. I could not have
answered it to my conscience to let 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,
for more than I gave: but, with regard to the purchase money, I
might have been very fortunate indeed; for the stocks were, at that
time, so low, that if I had not happened to have the necessary sum
in my banker's hands, 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 to Norland. Our respected father, as you well know,
bequeathed all the Stanhill 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 an undoubted right to dispose of his own property
as he chose. But, in consequence of it, we have been obliged to make
large purchases of linen, china, &c. 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. Ferrars's kindness is."
"Certainly," said Elinor; "and, assisted by her liberality, I hope
you may yet live to be in easy circumstances."
"Another year or two may do much towards it," he gravely
replied; "but, however, there is still a great deal to be done.
There is not a stone laid of Fanny's green-house, and nothing but
the plan of the flower-garden marked out."
"Where is the green-house to be?"
"Upon the knoll behind the house. The old walnut trees are all
come down to make room for it. It will be a very fine object from many
parts of the park; and the flower-garden will slope down just before
it, and be exceedingly pretty. We have cleared away all the old thorns
that grew in patches over the brow."
Elinor kept her concern and her censure to herself; and was very
thankful that Marianne was not present to share the provocation.
Having now said enough to make his poverty clear, and to do away
the necessity of buying a pair of ear-rings for each of his sisters,
in his next visit at Gray's his thoughts took a cheerfuller turn,
and he began to congratulate Elinor on having such a friend as Mrs.Jennings.
"She seems a most valuable woman indeed. Her house, her style of
living, all bespeak an exceeding good income; and it is an
acquaintance that has not only been of great use to you hitherto,
but in the end may prove materially advantageous. Her inviting you
to town is certainly a vast thing in your favour; and indeed 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 should rather suppose; for she has only her
jointure, which will descend to her children."
"But it is not to be imagined that she lives up to her income. Few
people of common prudence will do that; and whatever she saves she
will be able to dispose of."
"And do you not think it more likely that 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 her remembering them farther.
Whereas, in my opinion, by her taking so much notice of you, and
treating you in this kind of way, she has given you a sort of claim on
her future consideration, which a conscientious woman would not
disregard. Nothing can be kinder than her behaviour; and she can
hardly do all this, without being aware of the expectation it 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, have very little in their power. But, my dear
Elinor, what is the 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 several weeks."
"I am sorry for that. At her time of life, anything of an
illness destroys the bloom for ever! Hers has been a very short one!
She was as handsome a girl last September, as I ever saw,- and as
likely to attract the men. There was something in her style of
beauty to please them particularly. I remember Fanny used to say, that
she would marry sooner and better than you did; not but what she is
exceedingly fond of you, but so it happened to strike her. She will be
mistaken, however. I question whether Marianne, will marry a man worth
more than five or six hundred a year, at the utmost, and I am very
much deceived if you 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 the earliest and best pleased of your visitors."
Elinor tried very seriously to convince him that there was no
likelihood of her marrying Colonel Brandon; but it was an
expectation of too much pleasure to himself to be relinquished, and he
was really resolved on seeking an intimacy with that gentleman, and
promoting the marriage by every possible attention. He had just
compunction enough for having done nothing for his sisters himself, to
be exceedingly anxious that every body else should do a great deal;
and an offer from Colonel Brandon, or a legacy from 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. Abundance of civilities
passed on all sides. Sir John was ready to like anybody; and though
Mr. Dashwood did not seem to know much about horses, he soon sat 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.
"I shall have a charming account to carry to Fanny," said he, as
he walked back with his sister. "Lady Middleton is really a most
elegant woman! 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 elegant as her daughter. Your sister need not have any scruple,
even of visiting her, which, to say the truth, has been a little the
case, and very naturally; for we only knew that Mrs. Jennings was
the widow of a man, who had got all his money in a low way; and
Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed, that neither
she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny would like to
associate with. But now I can carry her a most satisfactory account of both."
Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 32 Sense and Sensibility Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 34