Chapter 213.docx

1、Chapter 213Chapter 21THE Palmers returned to Cleveland the next day, and the two families at Barton were again left to entertain each other. But this did not last long; Elinor had hardly got their last visitors out of her head,- had hardly done wondering at Charlottes being so happy without a cause,

2、 at Mr. Palmers acting so simply, with good abilities, and at the strange unsuitableness which often existed between husband and wife,- before Sir Johns and Mrs. Jenningss active zeal in the cause of society procured her some other new acquaintance to see and observe.In a mornings excursion to Exete

3、r, they had met with two young ladies, whom Mrs. Jennings had the satisfaction of discovering to be her relations, and this was enough for Sir John to invite them directly to the Park, as soon as their present engagements at Exeter were over. Their engagements at Exeter instantly gave way before suc

4、h an invitation; and Lady Middleton was thrown into no little alarm, on the return of Sir John, by hearing that she was very soon to receive a visit from two girls whom she had never seen in her life, and of whose elegance whose tolerable gentility even- she could have no proof; for the assurances o

5、f her husband and mother on that subject went for nothing at all. Their being her relation too, made it so much the worse; and Mrs. Jenningss attempts at consolation were, therefore, unfortunately founded, when she advised her daughter not to care about their being so fashionable; because they were

6、all cousins, and must put up with one another. As it was impossible, however, now to prevent their coming, Lady Middleton resigned herself to the idea of it with all the philosophy of a well-bred woman, contenting herself with merely giving her husband a gentle reprimand on the subject five or six t

7、imes every day. The young ladies arrived: their appearance was by no means ungenteel or unfashionable. Their dress was very smart, their manners very civil: they were delighted with the house, and in raptures with the furniture; and they happened to be so doatingly fond of children, that Lady Middle

8、tons good opinion was engaged in their favour before they had been an hour at the Park. She declared them to be very agreeable girls indeed, which, for her ladyship, was enthusiastic admiration. Sir Johns confidence in his own judgment rose with this animated praise, and he set off directly for the

9、cottage, to tell the Misses Dashwood of the Misses Steeles arrival, and to assure them of their being the sweetest girls in the world. From such commendation as this, however, there was not much to be learned: Elinor well knew that the sweetest girls in the world were to be met with in every part of

10、 England, under every possible variation of form, face, temper, and understanding. Sir John wanted the whole family to walk to the Park directly and look at his guests. Benevolent, philanthropic man! It was painful to him even to keep a third cousin to himself. Do come now, said he- pray come- you m

11、ust come- I declare you shall come. You cant think how you will like them. Lucy is monstrous pretty, and so good humoured and agreeable! The children are all hanging about her already, as if she was an old acquaintance. And they both long to see you of all things; for they have heard at Exeter that

12、you are the most beautiful creatures in the world; and I have told them it is all very true, and a great deal more. You will be delighted with them, I am sure. They have brought the whole coach full of playthings for the children. How can you be so cross as not to come? Why they are your cousins, yo

13、u know, after a fashion. You are my cousins, and they are my wifes; so you must be related. But Sir John could not prevail: he could only obtain a promise of their calling at the Park within a day or two, and then left them in amazement at their indifference, to walk home and boast anew of their att

14、ractions to the Misses Steele, as he had been already boasting of the Misses Steele to them.When their promised visit to the Park, and consequent introduction to these young ladies, took place, they found in the appearance of the eldest, who was nearly thirty, with a very plain and not a sensible fa

15、ce, nothing to admire; but in the other, who was not more than two or three and twenty, they acknowledged considerable beauty: her features were pretty, and she had a sharp quick eye, and a smartness of air, which, though it did not give actual elegance or grace, gave distinction to her person. Thei

16、r manners were particularly civil, and Elinor soon allowed them credit for some kind of sense, when she saw with what constant and judicious attention they were making themselves agreeable to Lady Middleton. With her children they were in continual raptures, extolling their beauty, courting their no

17、tice, and humouring their whims; and such of their time as could be spared from the importunate demands which this politeness made on it was spent in admiration of whatever her Ladyship was doing, if she happened to be doing anything, or in taking patterns of some elegant new dress, in which her app

18、earance the day before had thrown them into unceasing delight. Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most rapacious of human beings, is likewise the most credulous: her demands are exorbitant; but she will sw

19、allow any thing; and the excessive affection and endurance of the Misses Steele towards her offspring were viewed, therefore, by Lady Middleton without the smallest surprise or distrust. She saw with maternal complacency all the impertinent encroachments and mischievous tricks to which her cousins s

20、ubmitted. She saw their sashes untied, their hair pulled about their ears, their work-bags searched, and their knives and scissors stolen away, and felt no doubt of its being a reciprocal enjoyment. It suggested no other surprise than that Elinor and Marianne should sit so composedly by, without cla

21、iming a share in what was passing. Johnis in such spirits to-day! said she, on his taking Miss Steeles pocket handkerchief, and throwing it out of window- he is full of monkey tricks. And soon afterwards, on the second boys violently pinching one of the same ladys fingers, she fondly observed, How p

22、layful William is! And here is my sweet little Anna-Maria, she added, tenderly caressing a little girl of three years old, who had not made a noise for the last two minutes; and she is always so gentle and quiet. Never was there such a quiet little thing! But unfortunately in bestowing these embrace

23、s, a pin in her ladyships head-dress slightly scratching the childs neck, produced from this pattern of gentleness such violent screams, as could hardly be outdone by any creature professedly noisy. The mothers consternation was excessive; but it could not surpass the alarm of the Misses Steele, and

24、 every thing was done by all three, in so critical an emergency, which affection could suggest, as likely to assauge the agonies of the little sufferer. She was seated in her mothers lap, covered with kisses, her wound bathed with lavender-water, by one of the Misses Steele, who was on her knees to

25、attend her, and her mouth stuffed with sugar plums by the other. With such a reward for her tears, the child was too wise to cease crying. She still screamed and sobbed lustily, kicked her two brothers for offering to touch her: and all their united soothings were ineffectual, till Lady Middleton, l

26、uckily remembering that in a scene of similar distress last week some apricot marmalade had been successfully applied for a bruised temple, the same remedy was eagerly proposed for this unfortunate scratch, and a slight intermission of screams in the young lady on hearing it, gave them reason to hop

27、e that it would not be rejected. She was carried out of the room, therefore, in her mothers arms, in quest of this medicine; and as the two boys chose to follow, though earnestly entreated by their mother to stay behind, the four young ladies were left in a quietness which the room had not known for

28、 many hours. Poor little creatures! said Miss Steele, as soon as they were gone; it might have been a very sad accident. Yet I hardly know how, cried Marianne, unless it had been under totally different circumstances. But this is the usual way of heightening alarm, where there is nothing to be alarm

29、ed at in reality. What a sweet woman Lady Middleton is! said Lucy Steele. Marianne was silent; it was impossible for her to say what she did not feel, however trivial the occasion; and upon Elinor, therefore, the whole task of telling lies, when politeness required it, always fell. She did her best

30、when thus called on, by speaking of Lady Middleton with more warmth than she felt, though with far less than Miss Lucy. And Sir John, too, cried the elder sister, what a charming man he is! Here, too, Miss Dashwoods commendation, being only simple and just, came in without any eclat. She merely obse

31、rved that he was perfectly good humoured and friendly. And what a charming little family they have! I never saw such fine children in my life. I declare I quite doat upon them already, and indeed I am always distractedly fond of children. I should guess so, said Elinor, with a smile, from what I hav

32、e witnessed this morning. I have a notion, said Lucy, you think the little Middletons rather too much indulged; perhaps they may be the outside of enough; but it is so natural in Lady Middleton; and, for my part, I love to see children full of life and spirits; I cannot bear them if they are tame an

33、d quiet. I confess, replied Elinor, that while I am at Barton Park I never think of tame and quiet children with any abhorrence. A short pause succeeded this speech, which was first broken by Miss Steele, who seemed very much disposed for conversation, and who now said, rather abruptly, And how do you like Devonshire, Miss Dash