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it—a very few civil scruples were enough—especially as the
Carriage being now set up； was discovered to have received such
Injury on the fallen side as to be unfit for present use。—Mr。 Parker
was therefore carried into the House； and his Carriage wheeled off
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to a vacant Barn。
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CHAPTER II
he acquaintance； thus oddly begun； was neither short nor
unimportant。 For a whole fortnight the Travellors were
T
fixed at Willingden； Mr。 P。’s sprain proving too serious for
him to move sooner。—He had fallen into very good hands。 The
Heywoods were a thoroughly respectable family； and every
possible attention was paid in the kindest and most unpretending
manner； to both Husband and wife。 He was waited on and nursed；
and she cheered and comforted with unremitting kindness—and
as every office of Hospitality and friendliness was received as it
ought—as there was not more good will on one side than
Gratitude on the other—nor any deficiency of generally pleasant
manners on either； they grew to like each other in the course of
that fortnight； exceedingly well。—Mr。 Parker’s Character and
History were soon unfolded。 All that he understood of himself； he
readily told； for he was very openhearted；—and where he might be
himself in the dark； his conversation was still giving information；
to such of the Heywoods as could observe。—By such he was
perceived to be an Enthusiast；—on the subject of Sanditon； a
complete Enthusiast。—Sanditon；—the success of Sanditon as a
small； fashionable Bathing Place was the object； for which he
seemed to live。 A very few years ago； and it had been a quiet
Village of no pretensions； but some natural advantages in its
position and some accidental circumstances having suggested to
himself； and the other principal Land Holder； the probability of its
becoming a profitable Speculation； they had engaged in it； and
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planned and built； and praised and puffed； and raised it to a
Something of young Renown—and Mr。 Parker could now think of
very little besides。—The Facts； which in more direct
communication； he laid before them were that he was about five
and thirty—had been married；—very happily married seven
years—and had four sweet Children at home；—that he was of a
respectable Family； and easy though not large fortune；—no
Profession—succeeding as eldest son to the Property which two or
three Generations had been holding and accumulating before
him；—that he had two Brothers and two Sisters—all single and all
independant—the eldest of the two former indeed； by collateral
Inheritance； quite as well provided for as himself。—His object in
quitting the high road； to hunt for an advertising Surgeon； was
also plainly stated；—it had not proceeded from any intention of
spraining his ancle or doing himself any other Injury for the good
of such Surgeon—nor （as Mr H。 had been apt to suppose） from
any design of entering into Partnership with him—； it was merely
in consequence of a wish to establish some medical Man at
Sanditon； which the nature of the Advertisement induced him to
expect to accomplish in Willingden。—He was convinced that the
advantage of a medical Man at hand would very materially
promote the rise and prosperity of the Place—would in fact tend to
bring a prodigious influx；—nothing else was wanting。 He had
strong reason to believe that one family had been deterred last
year from trying Sanditon on that account—and probably very
many more—and his own Sisters who were sad Invalids； and
whom he was very anxious to get to Sanditon this Summer； could
hardly be expected to hazard themselves in a place where they
could not have immediate medical advice。—Upon the whole； Mr。
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P。 was evidently an amiable； family…man； fond of Wife； Children；
Brothers and Sisters—and generally kind…hearted；—Liberal；
gentlemanlike； easy to please；—of a sanguine turn of mind； with
more Imagination than Judgement。 And Mrs。 P。 was as evidently a
gentle； amiable； sweet tempered Woman； the properest wife in the
World for a Man of strong Understanding； but not of capacity to
supply the cooler reflection which her own Husband sometimes
needed； and so entirely waiting to be guided on every occasion；
that whether he were risking his Fortune or spraining his Ancle；
she remained equally useless。—Sanditon was a second Wife and
four Children to him—hardly less Dear—and certainly more
engrossing。—He could talk of it for ever。—It had indeed the
highest claims；—not only those of Birthplace； Property； and
Home；—it was his Mine； his Lottery； his Speculation and his
Hobby Horse； his Occupation his Hope and his Futurity。—He was
extremely desirous of drawing his good friends at Willingden
thither； and his endeavours in the cause； were as grateful and
disinterested； as they were warm。 He wanted to secure the
promise of a visit—to get as many of the Family as his own house
would contain； to follow him to Sanditon as soon as possible—and