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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 34
Extremes。—I feel that in any illness； I should be so anxious for
Professional advice； so very little venturesome for myself； or any
body I loved！—But then； we have been so healthy a family； that I
can be no Judge of what the habit of self…doctoring may do。’ ‘Why
to own the truth；’ said Mrs。 P。—‘I do think the Miss Parkers carry
it too far sometimes—and so do you my Love； you know。—You
often think they would be better； if they would leave themselves
more alone—and especially Arthur。 I know you think it a great
pity they should give him such a turn for being ill。’ ‘Well； well—my
dear Mary—I grant you； it is unfortunate for poor Arthur； that； at
his time of Life he should be encouraged to give way to
Indisposition。 It is bad；—it is bad that he should be fancying
himself too sickly for any Profession—and sit down at one and
twenty； on the interest of his own little Fortune； without any idea
of attempting to improve it； or of engaging in any occupation that
may be of use to himself or others。—But let us talk of pleasanter
things。—These two large Families are just what we wanted—
But—here is something at hand； pleasanter still—Morgan； with his
“Dinner on Table。”’
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 35
CHAPTER VI
he Party were very soon moving after Dinner。 Mr。 P。 could
not be satisfied without an early visit to the Library； and
T
the Library Subscription book； and Charlotte was glad to
see as much； and as quickly as possible； where all was new。 They
were out in the very quietest part of a Watering…place Day； when
the important Business of Dinner or of sitting after Dinner was
going on in almost every inhabited Lodging；—here and there a
solitary Elderly Man might be seen； who was forced to move early
and walk for health—but in general； it was a thorough pause of
Company； it was Emptiness and Tranquillity on the Terrace； the
Cliffs； and the Sands。—The Shops were deserted—the Straw Hats
and pendant Lace seemed left to their fate both within the House
and without； and Mrs。 Whitby at the Library was sitting in her
inner room； reading one of her own Novels； for want of
Employment。 The List of Subscribers was but commonplace。 The
Lady Denham； Miss Brereton； Mr。 and Mrs。 P。—Sir Edward
Denham and Miss Denham； whose names might be said to lead off
the Season； were followed by nothing better than—Mrs。
Mathews—Miss Mathews； Miss E。 Mathews； Miss H。 Mathews。—
Dr。 and Mrs。 Brown—Mr。 Richard Pratt。—Lieut。 Smith R。N。 Capt。
Little；—Limehouse。—Mrs。 Jane Fisher； Miss Fisher； Miss
Scroggs。—Rev。 Mr。 Hanking。 Mr。 Beard—Solicitor； Grays Inn。—
Mrs。 Davis； and Miss Merryweather。—Mr。 P。 could not but feel
that the List was not only without Distinction； but less numerous
than he had hoped。 It was but July however； and August and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 36
September were the Months；—And besides； the promised large
Families from Surry and Camberwell； were an ever…ready
consolation。—Mrs。 Whitby came forward without delay from her
Literary recess； delighted to see Mr。 Parker again； whose manners
recommended him to every body； and they were fully occupied in
their various Civilities and Communications； while Charlotte
having added her name to the List as the first offering to the
success of the Season； was busy in some immediate purchases for
the further good of Every body； as soon as Miss Whitby could be
hurried down from her Toilette； with all her glossy Curls and
smart Trinkets to wait on her。—The Library of course； afforded
every thing； all the useless things in the World that could not be
done without； and among so many pretty Temptations； and with
so much good will for Mr。 P。 to encourage Expenditure； Charlotte
began to feel that she must check herself—or rather she reflected
that at two and Twenty there could be no excuse for her doing
otherwise—and that it would not do for her to be spending all her
Money the very first Evening。 She took up a Book； it happened to
be a volume of Camilla。 She had not Camilla’s Youth； and had no
intention of having her Distress；—so； she turned from the Drawers
of rings and Broches repressed farther solicitation and paid for
what she bought。—For her particular gratification； they were then
to take a Turn on the Cliff—but as they quitted the Library they
were met by two Ladies whose arrival made an alteration
necessary； Lady Denham and Miss Brereton。—They had been to
Trafalgar House； and been directed thence to the Library； and
though Lady D。 was a great deal too active to regard the walk of a
mile as any thing requiring rest； and talked of going home again
directly； the Parkers knew that to be pressed into their House； and
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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Jane Austen： Sanditon 37
obliged to take her Tea with them； would suit her best；—and
therefore the stroll on the Cliff gave way to an immediate return
home。—‘No； no；’ said her Ladyship—‘I will not have you hurry
your Tea on my account。—I know you like your Tea late。—My
early hours are not to put my Neighbours to inconvenience。 No；
no； Miss Clara and I will get back to our own Tea。 We came out
with no other Thought。—We wanted just to see you and make sure
of your being really come； but we get back to our own Tea。’—She
went on however towards Trafalgar House and took possession of
the Drawing room very quietly—without