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brought to acknowledge the simple proposition of its being the
finest child in the world。
I come now to the relation of a misfortune； which about this
time befell Mrs。 John Dashwood。 It so happened that while her
two sisters with Mrs。 Jennings were first calling on her in Harley…
street； another of her acquaintance had dropt in—a circumstance
in itself not apparently likely to produce evil to her。 But while the
imaginations of other people will carry them away to form wrong
judgments of our conduct； and to decide on it by slight
appearances； one’s happiness must in some measure be always at
the mercy of chance。 In the present instance； this last…arrived lady
allowed her fancy to so far outrun truth and probability； that on
merely hearing the name of the Miss Dashwoods； and
understanding them to be Mr。 Dashwood’s sisters； she
immediately concluded them to be staying in Harley…street； and
this misconstruction produced within a day or two afterwards；
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cards of invitation for them as well as for their brother and sister；
to a small musical party at her house。 The consequence of which
was； that Mrs。 John Dashwood was obliged to submit not only to
the exceedingly great inconvenience of sending her carriage for
the Miss Dashwoods； but； what was still worse； must be subject to
all the unpleasantness of appearing to treat them with attention：
and who could tell that they might not expect to go out with her a
second time？ The power of disappointing them； it was true； must
always be her’s。 But that was not enough； for when people are
determined on a mode of conduct which they know to be wrong；
they feel injured by the expectation of any thing better from them。
Marianne had now been brought by degrees； so much into the
habit of going out every day； that it was become a matter of
indifference to her； whether she went or not： and she prepared
quietly and mechanically for every evening’s engagement； though
without expecting the smallest amusement from any； and very
often without knowing； till the last moment； where it was to take
her。
To her dress and appearance she was grown so perfectly
indifferent； as not to bestow half the consideration on it； during
the whole of her toilet； which it received from Miss Steele in the
first five minutes of their being together； when it was finished。
Nothing escaped her minute observation and general curiosity；
she saw every thing； and asked every thing； was never easy till she
knew the price of every part of Marianne’s dress； could have
guessed the number of her gowns altogether with better judgment
than Marianne herself； and was not without hopes of finding out
before they parted； how much her washing cost per week； and
how much she had every year to spend upon herself。 The
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impertinence of these kind of scrutinies； moreover； was generally
concluded with a compliment； which though meant as its douceur；
was considered by Marianne as the greatest impertinence of all；
for after undergoing an examination into the value and make of
her gown； the colour of her shoes； and the arrangement of her
hair； she was almost sure of being told that upon “her word she
looked vastly smart； and she dared to say she would make a great
many conquests。”
With such encouragement as this； was she dismissed on the
present occasion； to her brother’s carriage； which they were ready
to enter five minutes after it stopped at the door； a punctuality not
very agreeable to their sister…in…law； who had preceded them to
the house of her acquaintance； and was there hoping for some
delay on their part that might inconvenience either herself or her
coachman。
The events of this evening were not very remarkable。 The
party； like other musical parties； comprehended a great many
people who had real taste for the performance； and a great many
more who had none at all； and the performers themselves were； as
usual； in their own estimation； and that of their immediate friends；
the first private performers in England。
As Elinor was neither musical； nor affecting to be so； she made
no scruple of turning her eyes from the grand pianoforté；
whenever it suited her； and unrestrained even by the presence of a
harp； and violoncello； would fix them at pleasure on any other
object in the room。 In one of these excursive glances she perceived
among a group of young men； the very he； who had given them a
lecture on toothpick…cases at Gray’s。 She perceived him soon
afterwards looking at herself； and speaking familiarly to her
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brother； and had just determined to find out his name from the
latter； when they both came towards her； and Mr。 Dashwood
introduced him to her as Mr。 Robert Ferrars。
He addressed her with easy civility； and twisted his head into a
bow which assured her as plainly as words could have done； that
he was exactly the coxcomb she had heard him described to be by
Lucy。 Happy had it been for her； if her regard for Edward had
depended less on his own merit； than on the merit of his nearest
relations！ For then his brother’s bow must have given the finishing
stroke to what the ill…humour of his mother and sister would have
begun。 But while she wondered at the difference of the two young
men； she did not find that the emptiness of conceit of the one； put
her out of all charity with the modesty and worth of the other。 Why
they were different； Robert exclaimed to her himself in the course
of a quarter of an hour’s conversation； for； talking of his brother；
and lamenting the extreme gaucherie which he really believed
kept him from mixing in proper society； he candidly and
generously attributed it much less to any natural deficiency； than
to the misfortune of a private education； while he himself； though
probably without any particular； any material superiority by
nature； merely from the advantage of a public school； was as well
fitted to mix in the world as any other man。
“Upon my soul；” he added； “I believe it is nothing more； and so
I often tell my mother； when she is grieving about it。 ‘My dear
Madam；’ I always say to her； ‘you must make yourself easy。 The
evil is now irremediable； and it has been entirely your own doing。
Why would you be persuaded by my uncle； Sir Robert； against
your own judgment； to place Edward under private tuition； at the
most critical time of his life？ If you had only sent him to
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Westminster as well as myself； instead of sending him to Mr。
Pratt’s； all this would have been prevented。’ This is the way in
which I always consider the matter； and my mother is perfectly
convinced of her error。”
Elinor would not oppose his opinion； because； whatever might
be her general estimation of the advantage of a public school； she
could not think of Edward’s abode in Mr。 Pratt’s family； with any
satisfaction。
“You reside in Devonshire； I think；”—was his next observation；
“in a cottage near Dawlish。”
Elinor set him right as to