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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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Jane Austen： Sense and Sensibility 128
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； seating herself between
Elinor and Marianne； “for it is so bad a day I was afraid you might
not come； which would be a shocking thing； as we go away again
tomorrow。 We must go； for the Westons come to us next week you
know。 It was quite a sudden thing our coming at all； and I knew
nothing of it till the carriage was coming to the door； and then Mr。
Palmer asked me if I would go with him to Barton。 He is so droll！
He never tells me any thing！ I am so sorry we cannot stay longer；
however we shall meet again in town very soon； I hope。”
They were obliged to put an end to such an expectation。
“Not go to town！” cried Mrs。 Palmer； with a laugh； “I shall be
quite disappointed if you do not。 I could get the nicest house in
world for you； next door to ours； in Hanover…square。 You must
come； indeed。 I am sure I shall be very happy to chaperon you at
any time till I am confined； if Mrs。 Dashwood should not like to go
into public。”
They thanked her； but were obliged to resist all her entreaties。
“Oh！ my love；” cried Mrs。 Palmer to her husband； who just then
entered the room—“you must help me to persuade the Miss
Dashwoods to go to town this winter。”
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Her love made no answer； and after slightly bowing to the
ladies； began complaining of the weather。
“How horrid all this is！” said he。 “Such weather makes every
thing and every body disgusting。 Dullness is as much produced
within doors as without； by rain。 It makes one detest all one’s
acquaintance。 What the devil does Sir John mean by not having a
billiard room in his house？ How few people know what comfort is！
Sir John is as stupid as the weather。”
The rest of the company soon dropt in。
“I am afraid； Miss Marianne；” said Sir John； “you have not been
able to take your usual walk to Allenham today。”
Marianne looked very grave and said nothing。
“Oh； don’t be so sly before us；” said Mrs。 Palmer； “for we know
all about it； I assure you； and I admire your taste very much； for I
think he is extremely handsome。 We do not live a great way from
him in the country； you know。 Not above ten miles； I dare say。”
“Much nearer thirty；” said her husband。
“Ah； well！ there is not much difference。 I never was at his
house； but they say it is a sweet pretty place。”
“As vile a spot as I ever saw in my life；” said Mr。 Palmer。
Marianne remained perfectly silent； though her countenance
betrayed her interest in what was said。
“Is it very ugly？” continued Mrs。 Palmer—“then it must be
some other place that is so pretty I suppose。”
When they were seated in the dining room； Sir John observed
with regret that they were only eight all together。
“My dear；” said he to his lady； “it is very provoking that we
should be so few。 Why did not you ask the Gilberts to come to us
to…day？”
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“Did not I tell you； Sir John； when you spoke to me about it
before； that it could not be done？ They dined with us last。”
“You and I； Sir John；” said Mrs。 Jennings； “should not stand
upon such ceremony。”
“Then you would be very ill…bred；” cried Mr。 Palmer。
“My love you contradict every body；” said his wife with her
usual laugh。 “Do you know that you are quite rude？”
“I did not know I contradicted any body in calling your mother
ill…bred。”
“Ay； you may abuse me as you please；” said the good…natured
old lady； “you have taken Charlotte off my hands； and cannot give
her back again。 So there I have the whip hand of you。”
Charlotte laughed heartily to think that her husband could not
get rid of her； and exultingly said； she did not care how cross he
was to her； as they must live together。 It was impossible for any
one to be more thoroughly good…natured； or more determined to
be happy than Mrs。 Palmer。 The studied indifference； insolence；
and discontent of her husband gave her no pain； and when he
scolded or abused her； she was highly diverted。
“Mr。 Palmer is so droll！” said she； in a whisper； to Elinor。 “He is
always out of humour。”
Elinor w