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Chapter 7

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2020

Edward Copeland
Affiliation:
Pomona College, California
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Summary

BARTON PARK was about half a mile fromthe cottage. The ladies had passed near it in their way along the valley, but it was screened from their view at home by the projection of an hill. The house was large and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality and elegance. The former was for Sir John's gratification, the latter for that of his lady. They were scarcely ever without some friends staying with them in the house, and they kept more company of every kind than any other family in the neighbourhood. It was necessary to the happiness of both; for however dissimilar in temper and outward behaviour, they strongly resembled each other in that total want of talent and taste which confined their employments, unconnected with such as society produced, within a very narrow compass. Sir John was a sportsman, Lady Middleton a mother.He hunted and shot, and she humoured her children; and these were their only resources. Lady Middleton had the advantage of being able to spoil her children all the year round, while Sir John's independent employments were in existence only half the time. Continual engagements at home and abroad, however, supplied all the deficiencies of nature and education; supported the good spirits of Sir John, and gave exercise to the good-breeding of his wife.

Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table, and of all her domestic arrangements; and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment in any of their parties. But Sir John's satisfaction in society was much more real; he delighted in collecting about him more young people than his house would hold, and the noisier they were the better was he pleased. He was a blessing to all the juvenile part of the neighbourhood, for in summer he was for ever forming parties to eat cold ham and chicken out of doors, and in winter his private balls were numerous enough for any young lady who was not suffering under the insatiable appetite of fifteen.

The arrival of a new family in the country was always a matter of joy to him, and in every point of view he was charmed with the inhabitants he had now procured for his cottage at Barton. The Miss Dashwoods were young, pretty, and unaffected.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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  • Chapter 7
  • Jane Austen
  • Edited by Edward Copeland, Pomona College, California
  • Book: Sense and Sensibility
  • Online publication: 19 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009026772.011
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  • Chapter 7
  • Jane Austen
  • Edited by Edward Copeland, Pomona College, California
  • Book: Sense and Sensibility
  • Online publication: 19 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009026772.011
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Chapter 7
  • Jane Austen
  • Edited by Edward Copeland, Pomona College, California
  • Book: Sense and Sensibility
  • Online publication: 19 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009026772.011
Available formats
×