Margaret Dashwood

Margaret Dashwood was an observer of life. Her temper was calm, her manner gentle, and she was able to listen to the accounts other people gave of their activities without the a...

On an April day in 1813 Margaret Dashwood and her mother were driven up to the door of Barton Cottage. They left many interests behind them at Delaford. Elinor Ferrars at the pa...

Mrs. Dashwood’s attempt to exclude Mr. Atherton’s name from her conversation with Sir John was not caused by any wish on her part to keep the intended visit a secret. She was we...

The next morning found the Barton Cottage guest as eagerly determined on gallantry as ever. He appeared at the breakfast table full of admiration and discourse, and allowed no o...

Dining at the Park was an event which possessed neither interest nor novelty. Margaret did not anticipate any pleasure beyond the minor ones of excellent food and elegant surrou...

The next day was so delightfully fine that Margaret professed herself unable to stay in the house, and begged her mother’s indulgence for taking another long walk. Mrs. Dashwood...

Margaret held to her resolution not to walk on High-church down next morning. She found it increasingly hard to do so, and became conscious of deeper dejection of spirits with e...

On Tuesday morning, after the exertion and excitement of the ball, Margaret’s need for fresh air and quiet exercise was excessive. She could not remain within doors, and, once o...

Mrs. Dashwood’s astonishment was very great. It was impossible to doubt what she saw, and equally impossible to account for it. Margaret had hardly been away from her during the...

Margaret’s first feeling on awaking next morning was relief that her mother now knew all. There had been very little to know or to conceal, but it was a comfort to feel that the...

The next few weeks passed without any particular incident to vary their monotony. The summer was a fine one, much of the time was spent out of doors, and, though Margaret might...

John Dashwood’s visit to the parsonage was not yet over. He was still making daily demands on the civility and patience of the inmates of Barton Cottage, when such welcome guest...

Sir John Middleton was so fond of parties that not many days were ever allowed to elapse without his forming some plan to bring young people together. His activities were very w...

Walking or driving, it was not long before the whole party reached the Park. The first half-hour was occupied in strolling about the grounds between two showers to make up their...

The next days were productive of constant bustle and amusement for the actors, even if others of the party felt only boredom and inconvenience. Elinor was against the whole sche...

The rehearsals were the perquisite of Sir John. It was at the Park that they were held. His drawing-room it was that was daily filled with guests; his servants that were daily c...

The party for dinner was to have consisted of fifteen persons, including the little girls and their governess. Lady Carey, who combined strict views on the bringing up of childr...

Elinor seated herself on a bench under a tree with Mary Whitaker, who was seeking her society with the enthusiasm of the very young for an elder whose notice is coveted. Elinor...

The ball was to begin and end early. The dancers came from distances of from three to four miles, and the journey home, though in moonlight, must be regarded. There were to be e...

“I was very much surprised yesterday, mamma,” began Mrs. Ferrars, when she and her mother met next morning at the breakfast table. “Mr. Willoughby was at Newton, and seemed to w...

Willoughby had no difficulty in obtaining from Mrs. Grice the whereabouts of his “friend,” Richard Pennington. Consequently, when the letter-bag was opened on board the “Wren,”...

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...

The journey could easily be accomplished in a single day, but Sir John favoured an early start, and was at the door in his chaise before Margaret had finished breakfast. The mor...

Affectionate mother though she was, Mrs. Dashwood rejoiced in Margaret’s departure. She had looked so thin, so weary, and so low in spirits since her illness that the sight of h...

“I will not have Margaret troubled in the matter. We know nothing of his feeling, or of hers, and I am disinclined to exert any influence. Certainly it appears that he may be so...

The elder Mrs. Ferrars was connected with the Dashwoods in two ways. John Dashwood had married her daughter, Fanny, and her elder son, Edward, was the husband of Elinor. In spit...

Elinor was surprised on Tuesday afternoon, while sitting at work with her mother, to hear familiar footsteps coming up the path. It was Edward, bringing news of the intended vis...

The contest between the elder and the younger lady was still carried on, but the ground of difference was changed. It was not now whether Marianne should or should not join her...

The journey through England was as delightful as such a journey must be. It was leisurely, and if Mrs. Dashwood had wished to stop them she could very easily have done so. Thirt...