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 favor 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 everything; 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 meantime, 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 piano-forte 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.
Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 5 Sense and Sensibility Sense and Sensibility - Chapter 7