CHAPTER 6

     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 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.