第 六 章 · The first part of their journey was performed in too melancholy a

. The 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 parlors 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 endeavoring, by placing around them books and other possessions, to

form themselves a home. Marianne’s pianoforte 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 showing 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.