CHAPTER II

rs. John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of

Norland; and her mother and sisters-in-law were

degraded to the condition of visitors. As such,

however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by her

husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody

beyond himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them,

with some earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as

no plan appeared so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there

till she could accommodate herself with a house in the

neighbourhood, his invitation was accepted.

A continuance in a place where everything reminded her of

former delight, was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of

cheerfulness, no temper could be more cheerful than hers, or

possess, in a greater degree, that sanguineexpectation of

happiness which is happiness itself. But in sorrow she must be

equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond consolation

as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.

Mrs. John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her

husband intended to do for his sisters. To take three thousand

pounds from the fortune of their dear little boy would be

impoverishing him to the most dreadful degree. She begged him

to think again on the subject. How could he answer it to himself to

rob his child, and his only child too, of so large a sum? And what

possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were related to him

only by half blood, which she considered as no relationship at all,

have on his generosity to so large an amount. It was very well

known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between the

children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to

ruin himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his

money to his half sisters?

"It was my father's last request to me," replied her husband,

"that I should assist his widow and daughters."

"He did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one

but he was light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right

senses, he could not have thought of such a thing as begging you

to give away half your fortune from your own child."

"He did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he

only requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make

their situation more comfortable than it was in his power to do.

Perhaps it would have been as well if he had left it wholly to

myself. He could hardly suppose I should neglect them. But as he

required the promise, I could not do less than give it; at least I

thought so at the time. The promise, therefore, was given, and

must be performed. Something must be done for them whenever

they leave Norland and settle in a new home."

"Well, then, let something be done for them; but that something

need not be three thousand pounds. Consider," she added, "that

when the money is once parted with, it never can return. Your

sisters will marry, and it will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could

be restored to our poor little boy―"

"Why, to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would

make great difference. The time may come when Harry will regret

that so large a sum was parted with. If he should have a numerous

family, for instance, it would be a very convenient addition."

"To be sure it would."

"Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum

were diminished one half.―Five hundred pounds would be a

prodigious increase to their fortunes!"

"Oh! beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do

half so much for his sisters, even if really his sisters! And as it is―

only half blood!―But you have such a generous spirit!"

"I would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied. "One had

rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at

least, can think I have not done enough for them: even themselves,

they can hardly expect more."

"There is no knowing what they may expect," said the lady,

"but we are not to think of their expectations: the question is, what

you can afford to do."

"Certainly―and I think I may afford to give them five hundred

pounds a-piece. As it is, without any addition of mine, they will

each have about three thousand pounds on their mother's death―

a very comfortable fortune for any young woman."

"To be sure it is: and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want

no addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided

amongst them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if

they do not, they may all live very comfortably together on the

interest of ten thousand pounds."

"That is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon

the whole, it would not be more advisable to do something for

their mother while she lives, rather than for them―something of

the annuity kind I mean.―My sisters would feel the good effects of

it as well as herself. A hundred a year would make them all

perfectly comfortable."

His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this

plan.

"To be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen

hundred pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live

fifteen years we shall be completely taken in."

"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half

that purchase."

"Certainly not; but if you observe, people always live for ever

when there is an annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout

and healthy, and hardly forty. An annuity is a very serious

business; it comes over and over every year, and there is no

getting rid of it. You are not aware of what you are doing. I have

known a great deal of the trouble of annuities; for my mother was

clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated servants

by my father's will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she found

it. Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then

there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them

was said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be no such

thing. My mother was quite sick of it. Her income was not her

own, she said, with such perpetual claims on it; and it was the

more unkind in my father, because, otherwise, the money would

have been entirely at my mother's disposal, without any restriction

whatever. It has given me such an abhorrence of annuities, that I

am sure I would not pin myself down to the payment of one for all

the world."

"It is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to

have those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as

your mother justly says, is not one's own. To be tied down to the

regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means

desirable: it takes away one's independence."

"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They

think themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected,

and it raises no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did

should be done at my own discretion entirely. I would not bind

myself to allow them any thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient

some years to spare a hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own

expenses."

"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there

should by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them

occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly

allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of 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 will certainly be much the

best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent

their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply

discharging my promise to my father."

"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced

within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any

money at all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only

such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as

looking out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them

to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game,

and so forth, whenever they are in season. I'll lay my life that he

meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and

unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood,

how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her

daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds,

besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which

brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will

pay their mother for their board out of it. Altogether, they will

have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can

four women want for more than that?―They will live so cheap!

Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no

carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no

company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive

how comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I

cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving

them more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much

more able to give you something."

"Upon my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are

perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by

his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now,

and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance

and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother

removes into another house my services shall be readily given to

accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture

too may be acceptable then."

"Certainly," returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, one

thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to

Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china,

plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her

house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she

takes it."

"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable

legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very

pleasant addition to our own stock here."

"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as

what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my

opinion, for any place they can ever afford to live in. But, however,

so it is. Your father thought only of them. And I must say this: that

you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes;

for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost

everything in the world to them."

This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions

whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved,

that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous,

to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such

kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.
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