CHAPTER VI

he 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 parlours 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 endeavouring, by placing around

them books and other possessions, to form themselves a home.

Marianne's pianoforté 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.
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