Chapter 5
992 Words
Chapter 5
No sooner was her answer dispatched, than Mrs. Dashwood indulged
herself in the pleasure of announcing to her son-in-law and his
wife that she was provided with a house, and should incommode them
no longer than till every thing were ready for her inhabiting it.
They heard her with surprise. Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but
her husband civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from
Norland. She had great satisfaction in replying that she was going
into Devonshire.—Edward turned hastily towards her, on hearing
this, and, in a voice of surprise and concern, which required no
explanation to her, repeated, "Devonshire! Are you, indeed, going
there? So far from hence! And to what part of it?" She explained
the situation. It was within four miles northward of Exeter.
"It is but a cottage," she continued, "but I hope to see many of
my friends in it. A room or two can easily be added; and if my
friends find no difficulty in travelling so far to see me, I am
sure I will find none in accommodating them."
She concluded with a very kind invitation to Mr. and Mrs. John
Dashwood to visit her at Barton; and to Edward she gave one with
still greater affection. Though her late conversation with her
daughter-in-law had made her resolve on remaining at Norland no
longer than was unavoidable, it had not produced the smallest
effect on her in that point to which it principally tended. To
separate Edward and Elinor was as far from being her object as
ever; and she wished to show Mrs. John Dashwood, by this pointed
invitation to her brother, how totally she disregarded her
disapprobation of the match.
Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how
exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a
distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her
in removing her furniture. He really felt conscientiously vexed on
the occasion; for the very exertion to which he had limited the
performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement
rendered impracticable.— The furniture was all sent around by
water. It chiefly consisted of household linen, plate, china, and
books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's. Mrs. John Dashwood
saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not help feeling it
hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so trifling in
comparison with their own, she should have any handsome article of
furniture.
Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready
furnished, and she might have immediate possession. No difficulty
arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the
disposal of her effects at Norland, and to determine her future
household, before she set off for the west; and this, as she was
exceedingly rapid in the performance of everything that interested
her, was soon done.—The horses which were left her by her husband
had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering
of disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at
the earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her
children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have
kept it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. HER wisdom too
limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man,
with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had
formed their establishment at Norland.
The man and one of the maids were sent off immediately into
Devonshire, to prepare the house for their mistress's arrival; for
as Lady Middleton was entirely unknown to Mrs. Dashwood, she
preferred going directly to the cottage to being a visitor at
Barton Park; and she relied so undoubtingly on Sir John's
description of the house, as to feel no curiosity to examine it
herself till she entered it as her own. Her eagerness to be gone
from Norland was preserved from diminution by the evident
satisfaction of her daughter-in-law in the prospect of her removal;
a satisfaction which was but feebly attempted to be concealed under
a cold invitation to her to defer her departure. Now was the time
when her son-in-law's promise to his father might with particular
propriety be fulfilled. Since he had neglected to do it on first
coming to the estate, their quitting his house might be looked on
as the most suitable period for its accomplishment. But Mrs.
Dashwood began shortly to give over every hope of the kind, and to
be convinced, from the general drift of his discourse, that his
assistance extended no farther than their maintenance for six
months at Norland. He so frequently talked of the increasing
expenses of housekeeping, and of the perpetual demands upon his
purse, which a man of any consequence in the world was beyond
calculation exposed to, that he seemed rather to stand in need of
more money himself than to have any design of giving money
away.
In a very few weeks from the day which brought Sir John
Middleton's first letter to Norland, every thing was so far settled
in their future abode as to enable Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters
to begin their journey.
Many were the tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place
so much beloved. "Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she
wandered alone before the house, on the last evening of their being
there; "when shall I cease to regret you!—when learn to feel a home
elsewhere!—Oh! happy house, could you know what I suffer in now
viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you no
more!—And you, ye well-known trees!—but you will continue the
same.—No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch
become motionless although we can observe you no longer!—No; you
will continue the same; unconscious of the pleasure or the regret
you occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under
your shade!—But who will remain to enjoy you?"
- Writer
