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SENSE AND
SENSIBILITY
VOLUME I
CHAPTER I
he family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex。
Their estate was large； and their residence was at Norland
T
Park； in the centre of their property； where； for many
generations； they had lived in so respectable a manner as to
engage the general good opinion of their surrounding
acquaintance。 The late owner of this estate was a single man； who
lived to a very advanced age； and who for many years of his life；
had a constant companion and housekeeper in his sister。 But her
death； which happened ten years before his own； produced a great
alteration in his home； for to supply her loss； he invited and
received into his house the family of his nephew Mr。 Henry
Dashwood； the legal inheritor of the Norland estate； and the
person to whom he intended to bequeath it。 In the society of his
nephew and niece； and their children； the old Gentleman’s days
were comfortably spent。 His attachment to them all increased。 The
constant attention of Mr。 and Mrs。 Henry Dashwood to his wishes；
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which proceeded not merely from interest； but from goodness of
heart； gave him every degree of solid comfort which his age could
receive； and the cheerfulness of the children added a relish to his
existence。
By a former marriage； Mr。 Henry Dashwood had one son： by his
present lady； three daughters。 The son； a steady respectable young
man； was amply provided for by the fortune of his mother； which
had been large； and half of which devolved on him on his coming
of age。 By his own marriage； likewise； which happened soon
afterwards； he added to his wealth。 To him therefore the
succession to the Norland estate was not so really important as to
his sisters； for their fortune； independent of what might arise to
them from their father’s inheriting that property； could be but
small。 Their mother had nothing； and their father only seven
thousand pounds in his own disposal； for the remaining moiety of
his first wife’s fortune was also secured to her child； and he had
only a life interest in it。
The old gentleman died； his will was read； and like almost every
other will； gave as much disappointment as pleasure。 He was
neither so unjust； nor so ungrateful； as to leave his estate from his
nephew；—but he left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the
value of the bequest。 Mr。 Dashwood had wished for it more for the
sake of his wife and daughters than for himself or his son：—but to
his son； and his son’s son； a child of four years old； it was secured；
in such a way； as to leave to himself no power of providing for
those who were most dear to him； and who most needed a
provision by any charge on the estate； or by any sale of its valuable
woods。 The whole was tied up for the benefit of this child； who； in
occasional visits with his father and mother at Norland； had so far
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gained on the affections of his uncle； by such attractions as are by
no means unusual in children of two or three years old； an
imperfect articulation； an earnest desire of having his own way；
many cunning tricks； and a great deal of noise； as to outweigh all
the value of all the attention which； for years； he had received
from his niece and her daughters。 He meant not to be unkind
however； and； as a mark of his affection for the three girls； he left
them a thousand pounds a…piece。
Mr。 Dashwood’s disappointment was； at first； severe； but his
temper was cheerful and sanguine； and he might reasonably hope
to live many years； and by living economically； lay by a
considerable sum from the produce of an estate already large； and
capable of almost immediate improvement。 But the fortune； which
had been so tardy in coming； was his only one twelvemonth。 He
survived his uncle no longer； and ten thousand pounds； including
the late legacies； was all that remained for his widow and
daughters。
His son was sent for as soon as his danger was known； and to
him Mr。 Dashwood recommended； with all the strength and
urgency which illness could command； the interest of his mother…
in…law and sisters。
Mr。 John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of
the family； but he was affected by a recommendation of such a
nature at such a time； and he promised to do every thing in his
power to make them comfortable。 His father was rendered easy by
such an assurance； and Mr。 John Dashwood had then leisure to
consider how much there might prudently be in his power to do
for them。
He was not an ill…disposed young man； unless to be rather cold
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hearted and rather selfish； is to be ill…disposed： but he was； in
general； well respected； for he conducted himself with propriety in
the discharge of his ordinary duties。 Had he married a more
amiable woman； he might have been made still more respectable
than he was：—he might even have been made amiable himself； for
he was very young when he married； and very fond of his wife。 But
Mrs。 John Dashwood was a strong caricature of himself；—more
narrow…minded and selfish。
When he gave his promise to his father； he meditated within
himself to increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a
thousand pounds a…piece。 He then really thought himself equal to
it。 The prospect of four thousand a…year； in addition to his present
income； besides the remaining half of his own mother’s fortune；
warmed his heart； and made him fee