Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy

a disposition to be otherwise than tedious and unpleasant. But as

they drew towards the end of it, their interest in the appearance

of a country which they were to inhabit overcame their dejection,

and a view of Barton Valley as they entered it gave them

cheerfulness. It was a pleasant fertile spot, well wooded, and rich

in pasture. After winding along it for more than a mile, they

reached their own house. A small green court was the whole of its

demesne in front; and a neat wicket gate admitted them into it.

As a house, Barton Cottage, though small, was comfortable and

compact; but as a cottage it was defective, for the building was

regular, the roof was tiled, the window shutters were not painted

green, nor were the walls covered with honeysuckles. A narrow

passage led directly through the house into the garden behind. On

each side of the entrance was a sitting room, about sixteen feet

square; and beyond them were the offices and the stairs. Four

bed-rooms and two garrets formed the rest of the house. It had not

been built many years and was in good repair. In comparison of

Norland, it was poor and small indeed!—but the tears which

recollection called forth as they entered the house were soon dried

away. They were cheered by the joy of the servants on their

arrival, and each for the sake of the others resolved to appear

happy. It was very early in September; the season was fine, and

from first seeing the place under the advantage of good weather,

they received an impression in its favour which was of material

service in recommending it to their lasting approbation.

The situation of the house was good. High hills rose immediately

behind, and at no great distance on each side; some of which were

open downs, the others cultivated and woody. The village of Barton

was chiefly on one of these hills, and formed a pleasant view from

the cottage windows. The prospect in front was more extensive; it

commanded the whole of the valley, and reached into the country

beyond. The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the

valley in that direction; under another name, and in another

course, it branched out again between two of the steepest of

them.

With the size and furniture of the house Mrs. Dashwood was upon

the whole well satisfied; for though her former style of life

rendered many additions to the latter indispensable, yet to add and

improve was a delight to her; and she had at this time ready money

enough to supply all that was wanted of greater elegance to the

apartments. "As for the house itself, to be sure," said she, "it is

too small for our family, but we will make ourselves tolerably

comfortable for the present, as it is too late in the year for

improvements. Perhaps in the spring, if I have plenty of money, as

I dare say I shall, we may think about building. These parlors are

both too small for such parties of our friends as I hope to see

often collected here; and I have some thoughts of throwing the

passage into one of them with perhaps a part of the other, and so

leave the remainder of that other for an entrance; this, with a new

drawing room which may be easily added, and a bed-chamber and

garret above, will make it a very snug little cottage. I could wish

the stairs were handsome. But one must not expect every thing;

though I suppose it would be no difficult matter to widen them. I

shall see how much I am before-hand with the world in the spring,

and we will plan our improvements accordingly."

In the mean time, till all these alterations could be made from

the savings of an income of five hundred a-year by a woman who

never saved in her life, they were wise enough to be contented with

the house as it was; and each of them was busy in arranging their

particular concerns, and endeavoring, by placing around them books

and other possessions, to form themselves a home. Marianne's

pianoforte was unpacked and properly disposed of; and Elinor's

drawings were affixed to the walls of their sitting room.

In such employments as these they were interrupted soon after

breakfast the next day by the entrance of their landlord, who

called to welcome them to Barton, and to offer them every

accommodation from his own house and garden in which theirs might

at present be deficient. Sir John Middleton was a good looking man

about forty. He had formerly visited at Stanhill, but it was too

long for his young cousins to remember him. His countenance was

thoroughly good-humoured; and his manners were as friendly as the

style of his letter. Their arrival seemed to afford him real

satisfaction, and their comfort to be an object of real solicitude

to him. He said much of his earnest desire of their living in the

most sociable terms with his family, and pressed them so cordially

to dine at Barton Park every day till they were better settled at

home, that, though his entreaties were carried to a point of

perseverance beyond civility, they could not give offence. His

kindness was not confined to words; for within an hour after he

left them, a large basket full of garden stuff and fruit arrived

from the park, which was followed before the end of the day by a

present of game. He insisted, moreover, on conveying all their

letters to and from the post for them, and would not be denied the

satisfaction of sending them his newspaper every day.

Lady Middleton had sent a very civil message by him, denoting

her intention of waiting on Mrs. Dashwood as soon as she could be

assured that her visit would be no inconvenience; and as this

message was answered by an invitation equally polite, her ladyship

was introduced to them the next day.

They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so

much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of

her appearance was favourable to their wishes. Lady Middleton was

not more than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her

figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had

all the elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have

been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her

visit was long enough to detract something from their first

admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly well-bred, she was

reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most

common-place inquiry or remark.

Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very

chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of

bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six

years old, by which means there was one subject always to be

recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity, for they had to

enquire his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions

which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held

down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered

at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough

at home. On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by

way of provision for discourse. In the present case it took up ten

minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or

mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course

every body differed, and every body was astonished at the opinion

of the others.

An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating

on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house

without securing their promise of dining at the park the next

day.