CHAPTER V

o 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 shew 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 pianoforté 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 every thing 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?"
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