Mr. Atherton’s engagement was the chief topic of conversation on the
ensuing days. All Margaret’s visitors must have something to say about
it. It appeared that he had been very liberal in his confidences and
every one could report something he had told them of the state of his
mind either before or after his acceptance.
The power of love in determining the actions of humanity was once more
demonstrated. Mr. Atherton could not quite succeed in attaching himself
to Margaret, and altogether failed to win her affections, even though
he had the inducement of a promised fortune. Now he was not only very
much in love himself, but had obtained from the lady that gratitude
and pleasure in his addresses which would certainly develop into a
satisfactory degree of conjugal affection, all without any money in the
question at all.
Mr. Atherton, though perhaps a little unreserved in his raptures, was a
very much more respectable figure in the eyes of the ladies at Barton
Cottage than he had been before. Miss Fairfield was an agreeable girl.
His affection for her was readily understood, and if hers for him were
increased by the prospect of a comfortable home and an affectionate
companion in place of a dull school-room and other people’s children,
it was not the less comprehensible for that. It was expected that she
would prove a valuable neighbour.
Walter Carey’s attentions did not diminish as Margaret grew stronger,
and Elinor’s encouragement of his visits became an anxiety. Elinor had
interpreted Margaret’s moment of agitation over Mrs. Jennings’s news,
“Your beau is to marry some one else,” as having reference to Walter,
and in giving him every facility to see her sister believed herself to
be doing a double service. That is, she wished to believe it, but was
not always able to think of Margaret as being happy in the visits.
Margaret had an intense longing to escape from it all. The days of
confinement to her room after a summer spent in the valley of Barton
had given her a feeling of being hemmed in on all sides, and Elinor,
and even her mother, increased this sensation by their affectionate
solicitude. She longed greatly for change of scene and society, so much
so that she took the first step to gaining her desire by confessing
to her mother how much she would like to go away. She would even be
willing for them to pay a short visit to her brother at Norland Park
rather than remain without change.
“We can get back before the autumn, mamma. I should not wish to stay
long, but we have the month of September before us, and it is a
pleasant month at Norland or anywhere.”
Mrs. Dashwood was not prepared to take her daughter to Norland Park.
The discussions with John Dashwood relating to Margaret’s marriage had
given her no desire for his company, and the subsequent engagement
of Mr. Atherton could not but be the occasion for reproaches, either
expressed or felt, which would be neither pleasant nor profitable.
Margaret, having no idea of her brother’s plans for her happiness,
could not be aware how deeply he would resent Miss Fairfield’s.
Mrs. Dashwood would not hear of their going to Norland Park, but the
idea that Margaret needed some change took root in her mind, and she
suggested to Elinor that her sister should return to Delaford with her,
and pass some time with Marianne. Elinor was very unwilling for such an
arrangement to be made.
“Consider, mamma,” she said, “how much Margaret might be sacrificing
when indulging this whim. Do you not think it would be an admirable
thing if she became engaged to Walter Carey? It would be a marriage in
every way desirable, and I cannot think it unlikely.”
“My Elinor, do not let us become affected by the Park, and imagine
every young man who is reasonably attentive to be a possible suitor,”
replied Mrs. Dashwood. “Margaret is very young. It is probable that she
has not yet seen the man she is to marry. I cannot allow my plans to be
ruled by any such consideration.”
Elinor could not restrain a smile. Her mother’s variableness was
no doubt one of her attractions, but it was impossible for a more
sober-minded daughter to forget so easily how her mother had furthered
her own meetings with Edward at a time when she herself would have
greatly preferred not to see him, and that Colonel Brandon undoubtedly
owed his present happiness to his mother-in-law’s warm-hearted
assistance. Marianne had always been quick to follow her mother’s
mood, and at this point would have repudiated all idea of arranging
Margaret’s future, but Elinor’s steadiness of purpose did not falter.
“I am convinced,” she went on, “that the marriage is expected, and
would be welcomed by the Careys. Isabella has said as much to me on
more than one occasion, and therefore I do not see why it should not
be expected and desired by ourselves. There can be no indelicacy in
wishing Walter Carey well. He makes no secret of his attachment, and I
very much wish that Margaret would be equally unreserved. I sometimes
fear she still thinks of Commander Pennington, and consider how
advantageous it would be for this to be settled before he returns--if
he ever does return.”
“I imagine her mind is not made up, therefore she can have nothing
to confide,” said Mrs. Dashwood. “You would not wish to hurry her
decision; and, indeed,” recollecting herself, “I have no knowledge that
a decision is to be made. Young men do have their fancies, and it is
quite unnecessary to take them seriously.”
“It is just for that reason that I feel Margaret should stay at
home. If she leaves Walter may become attracted by some one else. It
is a very desirable marriage, and, though I would not wish to take
any action in order to bring it about, I do not see that we need do
anything to discourage it. If Margaret goes to Delaford it will seem to
Walter that she desires to put an end to everything.”
“I cannot take so serious a view of a change of air for an invalid,”
Mrs. Dashwood said with impatience. “Walter would be a very
unreasonable young man indeed, and an exasperating husband, if he did
not consider Margaret’s health to be a more important consideration
than his own pleasure in seeing her. I have no idea of his being of so
exacting a nature.”
Elinor found herself no longer able to keep pace with her mother’s
change of front, but perceiving that, for whatever reason, the visit
to Delaford was considered desirable, she gave up the discussion and
limited herself to writing to Edward to make a suggestion which would
ensure Margaret’s absence from home being short.
Her plan was that Margaret should travel with Sir John alone; that she
herself should remain with her mother; and that, as it would become
necessary for Edward to fetch his wife later in the month, he could
at the same time bring Margaret back to Barton. The advantages of
this would be that her mother would not be left alone and that the
time of her sister’s return would be fixed by her own and Edward’s
wishes. By remaining at Barton she would be able to take some care of
Walter’s feelings. She had been very much pleased with the young man,
and her interest was awakened for his happiness almost more than for
her sister’s good, and, though smiling as she thought of her mother
comparing her with Mrs. Jennings and Sir John, she did not feel ashamed
of her wise ordering of other people’s affairs.
Margaret learnt with great pleasure of the scheme so arranged. On an
early day in September she was to leave Barton unaccompanied either by
her mother or Elinor, with no companion but Sir John, whose wit would
soon be lulled to rest by the motion of the carriage. He would sleep,
and she would look out of the window and see other fields and other
houses, and a different breed of cattle.
At the end of the journey there would be Marianne, beautiful and
affectionate, and not too familiar; the mansion-house with its spacious
rooms and comfortable corners, and the grounds surrounding it with
trees and lawns. There she hoped to escape from her thoughts into wider
interests. Colonel Brandon had always something to say worth hearing.
Marianne had the newest books and music, and Edward Ferrars at the
parsonage was always friendly. No one would think very much about her,
or give her any hints or advice.
Sir John agreed to the scheme, after complaining that he would have
only one young lady to amuse him instead of two. Edward, though
reluctant to be without his wife for a further period, was willing
to do as she desired. Mrs. Dashwood was glad to have Elinor’s visit
prolonged. Marianne wrote many affectionate messages on Edward’s
second sheet, and Walter Carey, though not consulted beforehand, was
not more than reasonably disappointed on hearing that Margaret was
to visit her sister in Dorset until her health should be completely
restored.