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How does Mrs。 Dashwood do？ And where are your sisters？ What！
all alone！ you will be glad of a little company to sit with you。 I have
brought my other son and daughter to see you。 Only think of their
coming so suddenly！ I thought I heard a carriage last night； while
we were drinking our tea； but it never entered my head that it
could be them。 I thought of nothing but whether it might not be
Colonel Brandon come back again； so I said to Sir John； I do think
I hear a carriage； perhaps it is Colonel Brandon come back
again”—
Elinor was obliged to turn from her； in the middle of her story；
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to receive the rest of the party； Lady Middleton introduced the two
strangers； Mrs。 Dashwood and Margaret came down stairs at the
same time； and they all sat down to look at one another； while Mrs。
Jennings continued her story as she walked through the passage
into the parlour； attended by Sir John。
Mrs。 Palmer was several years younger than Lady Middleton；
and totally unlike her in every respect。 She was short and plump；
had a very pretty face； and the finest expression of good humour
in it that could possibly be。 Her manners were by no means so
elegant as her sister’s； but they were much more prepossessing。
She came in with a smile； smiled all the time of her visit； except
when she laughed； and smiled when she went away。 Her husband
was a grave looking young man of five or six and twenty； with an
air of more fashion and sense than his wife； but of less willingness
to please or be pleased。 He entered the room with a look of self…
consequence； slightly bowed to the ladies； without speaking a
word； and； after briefly surveying them and their apartments； took
up a newspaper from the table； and continued to read it as long as
he staid。
Mrs。 Palmer； on the contrary； who was strongly endowed by
nature with a turn for being uniformly civil and happy； was hardly
seated before her admiration of the parlour and every thing in it
burst forth。
“Well！ what a delightful room this is！ I never saw anything so
charming！ Only think； mama； how it is improved since I was here
last！ I always thought it such a sweet place； ma’am！ （turning to
Mrs。 Dashwood） but you have made it so charming！ Only look；
sister； how delightful every thing is！ How I should like such a
house for myself！ Should not you； Mr。 Palmer？”
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Mr。 Palmer made her no answer； and did not even raise his
eyes from the newspaper。
“Mr。 Palmer does not hear me；” said she； laughing； “he never
does sometimes。 It is so ridiculous！”
This was quite a new idea to Mrs。 Dashwood； she had never
been used to find wit in the inattention of any one； and could not
help looking with surprise at them both。
Mrs。 Jennings； in the mean time； talked on as loud as she could；
and continued her account of their surprise； the evening before；
on seeing their friends； without ceasing till every thing was told。
Mrs。 Palmer laughed heartily at the recollection of their
astonishment； and every body agreed； two or three times over；
that it had been quite an agreeable surprise。
“You may believe how glad we all were to see them；” added
Mrs。 Jennings； leaning forward towards Elinor； and speaking in a
low voice as if she meant to be heard by no one else； though they
were seated on different sides of the room； “but； however； I can’t
help wishing they had not travelled quite so fast； nor made such a
long journey of it； for they came all round by London upon
account of some business； for you know （nodding significantly and
pointing to her daughter） it was wrong in her situation。 I wanted
her to stay at home and rest this morning； but she would come
with us； she longed so much to see you all！”
Mrs。 Palmer laughed； and said it would not do her any harm。
“She expects to be confined in February；” continued Mrs。
Jennings。
Lady Middleton could no longer endure such a conversation；
and therefore exerted herself to ask Mr。 Palmer if there was any
news in the paper。
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“No； none at all；” he replied； and read on。
“Here comes Marianne；” cried Sir John。 “Now； Palmer； you
shall see a monstrous pretty girl。”
He immediately went into the passage； opened the front door；
and ushered her in himself。 Mrs。 Jennings asked her； as soon as
she appeared； if she had not been to Allenham； and Mrs。 Palmer
laughed so heartily at the question； as to show she understood it。
Mr。 Palmer looked up on her entering the room； stared at her
some minutes； and then returned to his newspaper。 Mrs。 Palmer’s
eye was now caught by the drawings which hung round the room。
She got up to examine them。
“Oh！ dear； how beautiful these are！ Well！ how delightful！ Do but
look； mama； how sweet！ I declare they are quite charming； I could
look at them for ever。” And then sitting down again； she very soon
forgot that there were any such things in the room。
When Lady Middleton rose to go away； Mr。 Palmer rose also；
laid down the newspaper； stretched himself and looked at them all
round。
“My love； have you been asleep？” said his wife； laughing。
He made her no answer； and only observed； after again
examining the room； that it was very low pitched； and that the
ceiling was crooked。 He then made his bow； and departed with the
rest。
Sir John had been very urgent with them all to spend the next
day at the park。 Mrs。 Dashwood； who did not chuse to dine with
them oftener than they dined at the cottage； absolutely refused on
her own account； her daughters might do as they pleased。 But
they had no curiosity to see how Mr。 and Mrs。 Palmer ate their
dinner； and no expectation of pleasure from them in any other
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way。 They attempted； therefore； likewise to excuse themselves； the
weather was uncertain； and not likely to be good。 But Sir John
would not be satisfied—the carriage should be sent for them and
they must come。 Lady Middleton too； though she did not press
their mother； pressed them。 Mrs。 Jennings and Mrs。 Palmer joined
their entreaties； all seemed equally anxious to avoid a family party；
and the young ladies were obliged to yield。
“Why should they ask us？” said Marianne； as soon as they were
gone。 “The rent of this cottage is said to be low； but we have it on
very hard terms； if we are to dine at the park whenever any one is
staying either with them； or with us。”
“They mean no less to be civil and kind to us now；” said Elinor；
“by these frequent invitations； than by those which we received
from them a few weeks ago。 The alteration is not in them； if their
parties are grown tedious and dull。 We must look for the change
elsewhere。”
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CHAPTER XX
s the Miss Dashwoods entered the drawing…room of the
Apark the next day； at one door； Mrs。 Palmer came running
in at the other； looking as good humoured and merry as
before。 She took them all most affectionately by the hand； and
expressed great delight in seeing them again。
“I am so glad to see you！” said she；