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1"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should be no annuity in the case; whatever I may give
2them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style
3of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It
4will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed
5for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father." "To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the
6truth, I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all. The assistance he
7thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a
8comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game, and so
9forth, whenever they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and
10unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her
11daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls,
12which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it.
13Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want for more than
14that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no carriage, no horses, and
15hardly any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how comfortable they
16will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them
17more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able to give you something." "Upon my word," said Mr.
18Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what
19you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness
20to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to
21accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then." "Certainly," returned
22Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, one thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though
23the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house
24will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it." "That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A
25valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here." "Yes;
26and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my
27opinion, for any place they can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought only of them. And I
28must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if
29he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to them." This argument was irresistible. It gave to his
30intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if
31not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his
32own wife pointed out. CHAPTER III. Mrs. Dashwood remained at Norland several months; not from any disinclination to move
33when the sight of every well known spot ceased to raise the violent emotion which it produced for a while; for when her
34spirits began to revive, and her mind became capable of some other exertion than that of heightening its affliction by
35melancholy remembrances, she was impatient to be gone, and indefatigable in her inquiries for a suitable dwelling in the
36neighbourhood of Norland; for to remove far from that beloved spot was impossible. But she could hear of no situation
37that at once answered her notions of comfort and ease, and suited the prudence of her eldest daughter, whose steadier
38judgment rejected several houses as too large for their income, which her mother would have approved. Mrs. Dashwood had
39been informed by her husband of the solemn promise on the part of his son in their favour, which gave comfort to his
40last earthly reflections. She doubted the sincerity of this assurance no more than he had doubted it himself, and she
41thought of it for her daughters' sake with satisfaction, though as for herself she was persuaded that a much smaller
42provision than 7000£ would support her in affluence. For their brother's sake, too, for the sake of his own heart, she
43rejoiced; and she reproached herself for being unjust to his merit before, in believing him incapable of generosity. His
44attentive behaviour to herself and his sisters convinced her that their welfare was dear to him, and, for a long time,
45she firmly relied on the liberality of his intentions. The contempt which she had, very early in their acquaintance,
46felt for her daughter-in-law, was very much increased by the farther knowledge of her character, which half a year's
47residence in her family afforded; and perhaps in spite of every consideration of politeness or maternal affection on the
48side of the former, the two ladies might have found it impossible to have lived together so long, had not a particular
49circumstance occurred to give still greater eligibility, according to the opinions of Mrs. Dashwood, to her daughters'
50continuance at Norland. This circumstance was a growing attachment between her eldest girl and the brother of Mrs. John
51Dashwood, a gentleman-like and pleasing young man, who was introduced to their acquaintance soon after his sister's
52establishment at Norland, and who had since spent the greatest part of his time there. Some mothers might have
53encouraged the intimacy from motives of interest, for Edward Ferrars was the eldest son of a man who had died very rich;
54and some might have repressed it from motives of prudence, for, except a trifling sum, the whole of his fortune depended
55on the will of his mother. But Mrs. Dashwood was alike uninfluenced by either consideration. It was enough for her that
56he appeared to be amiable, that he loved her daughter, and that Elinor returned the partiality. It was contrary to every
57doctrine of hers that difference of fortune should keep any couple asunder who were attracted by resemblance of
58disposition; and that Elinor's merit should not be acknowledged by every one who knew her, was to her comprehension
59impossible. Edward Ferrars was not recommended to their good opinion by any peculiar graces of person or address. He was
60not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing. He was too diffident to do justice to himself;
61but when his natural shyness was overcome, his behaviour gave every indication of an open, affectionate heart. His
62understanding was good, and his education had given it solid improvement. But he was neither fitted by abilities nor
63disposition to answer the wishes of his mother and sister, who longed to see him distinguished--as--they hardly knew
64what. They wanted him to make a fine figure in the world in some manner or other. His mother wished to interest him in
65political concerns, to get him into parliament, or to see him connected with some of the great men of the day. Mrs. John
66Dashwood wished it likewise; but in the mean while, till one of these superior blessings could be attained, it would
67have quieted her ambition to see him driving a barouche. But Edward had no turn for great men or barouches. All his
68wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet of private life. Fortunately he had a younger brother who was more
69promising.
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